PACIFIC SYMPHONY’S “HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR”
OPENS 2012-13 FAMILY MUSICAL MORNING SERIES WITH
GOOSEBUMP-SCARY MUSIC AND FUN FOR EVERYONE!
Orange County, Calif.—Frightfully delightful masterpieces introduce children to the world of classical music during Pacific Symphony’s annual Halloween family favorite, a magical treat perfect for good little ghouls and ghosts looking for a way to celebrate the holiday. Led by Assistant Conductor Maxim Eshkenazy, “Halloween Spooktacular” launches the 2012-13 Family Musical Mornings series sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank—five 45-minute concerts designed for children ages 5-11, but also for the kid and music lover in everyone.
A hair-raisingly funny story written and directed by Bree Burgess Rosen, founder of “Lagunatics” and No Square Theater in Laguna Beach, sets the scene as two smart and brave children, 9-year-old Charlotte Rubino and 12-year-old Nils Wilson, use the sounds of the orchestra to stop the mad scientist Hildegard Bumbledorf (Rosen) from putting an end to Halloween!
Taking place Saturday, Oct. 20, at 10 and 11:30 a.m. in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, guests are invited to come dressed in costume and enjoy the Musical Carnival before or after the concert (more below). Season-ticket packages for Family Musical Mornings are available for $82-$160 with a special buy two, get one free offer. Single-event tickets are $19-$39. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799 or visit PacificSymphony.org.
Featuring the spell-binding music of John Williams’ “Harry’s Wondrous World”—a suite of excerpts from the “Harry Potter” films; Saint Saëns’ “Danse Macabre”; Grieg’s Suite No. 1 from “Peer Gynt”; Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain” (easily recognizable from the film, “Fantasia”) and Rimsky-Korsakov’s
“Capriccio Espagnol,” this concert includes Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO)
performing side-by-side the Symphony’s professional musicians.
“Everybody likes scary music, and I love all of the pieces on this concert,” says Maestro Eshkenazy. “We have one of the most beautiful beginnings with the flute opening of the Grieg suite, as it represents the morning sun, Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘Capriccio Espagnol’ is full of Spanish color and John Williams’ music from ‘Harry Potter’ has become so popular that we couldn’t do without it.”
Following an audition, one talented student from PSYO has been chosen to play the solo violin part from “Danse Macabre,” which tells the story of “Death,” who appears every midnight at Halloween, calling the dead with a fiddle.
“I’m very excited about the results of the audition,” continues Eshkenazy. “Since we are having PSYO playing alongside the orchestra, we needed music that is both suitable for Halloween, with a scary element, but is also educational and appropriate for the students. We host this side-by-side concert every year because it is so beneficial. They have been practicing a lot, but to see professional musicians—who have dedicated their lives to music—still performing and enjoying it, is very encouraging to the students.”
Children and families dressed in their Halloween best are invited to participate in the Musical Carnival—beginning at 9 a.m. (for those attending the 10 a.m. performance) and at 12:15 p.m. (for those attending the 11:30 a.m. concert). Taking place outside the concert hall, the Carnival is full of entertaining activities for kids, including a meet-and-greet with Symphony musicians, Halloween crafts, “Ask the Orchestra,” an “Instrument Test-Drive” and information on an opportunity to participate in the January Family-production of “The Magic Flute.”
“First of all, Halloween as we celebrate it in the United States today is a fun holiday!” says Susan Miller Kotses, director of education and community engagement. “How can you go wrong with playing dress up and getting yummy treats? Any music that reminds kids of Halloween is fun music. But beyond this, children and adults generally find music that tells a story particularly engaging. All of the composers chosen for this concert use musical elements like a ‘tone palette.’ They pull different colors and textures from the instruments in the orchestra to evoke specific moods and to tell specific stories.”
Family Musical Mornings continue Saturday, Dec. 8, when sugar plum fairies dance across the stage in “Nutcracker for Kids,” an abridged version of the seasonal favorite by Tchaikovsky. On Jan. 20, 2013, talented singers join the Symphony for Mozart’s musical fairy tale, “The Magic Flute.” Then on March 23, 2013, “Cinderella” is told with life-size puppets and music from Prokofiev’s popular ballet. The season concludes with “Under the Sea,” featuring Disney’s theme to “The Little Mermaid” and Debussy’s “La Mer” on May 4, 2013.
Boo!
Jayce
Jayce Keane
Director of Public Relations
Pacific Symphony
3631 S. Harbor Blvd. Suite 100
Santa Ana, CA 92704
Tickets: 714/ 755-5799
