Lewisville Lake Symphony’s Family Popcorn Concert features Chip Waggoner from Fox 4 as the narrator in Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf.” It is a tale so large that the narrator needs members of the Lewisville Lake Symphony, dancers from the LakeCities Ballet, and the resources of Lewisville’s Parks and Recreation Department to help him.
The concert takes place at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, and targets youngsters from pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade, along with their parents and grandparents. It will be held at the Civic Circle Recreation Center, 191 Civic Circle, Lewisville TX 75967. (From I-35: Exit Main Street and head West. Turn Right on Civic Circle. Two blocks on the right, across from Post Office.)
Adron Ming, Music Director and conductor of the Lewisville Lake Symphony says, “Prokofiev took his two sons to the Moscow Children’s Music Theatre to learn about music. They were bored and fidgety so he decided to write a light-hearted piece that would introduce children to the instruments and sounds of the orchestra. The result was ‘Peter and the Wolf’ and it has been a genuine favorite of kids and grownups ever since.”
“Each character in the story is represented by a tune and instrument,” explains Ming. “Peter’s signature tune is a cheerfully whistled theme in the strings. He has an adventure in a meadow which is territory forbidden by his grandfather (a grumpy bassoon). There is also a cat (a clarinet) stalking in the grass, a duck (quacking oboe) a bird (agile flute) and some hunters (drums). The wolf bares its teeth to menacing horns. Peter ends up catching the wolf with the help of his animal friends, and leads a triumphant procession with grandfather still complaining.”
“We have gone one better than the original performance and I think Prokofiev would approve,” adds Ming. “We provide free popcorn and the kids can sprawl on the gym mats in front of the stage area. They have a great time while learning a few things along the way. The grown ups sit on the basketball court’s bleachers where they can watch the performance as well as the children absorbing the magic of music and dance.”
Symphony volunteers operate an instrument Petting Zoo after the concert where the kids can try out real orchestral instruments. There is also a workshop where they can make instruments of their own devising.
More information about Lewisville Lake Symphony and the Family Popcorn Concert is available at www.lewisvillesymphony.org.