By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is bringing a slightly different twist to Prokofiev's timeless classic, "Peter and the Wolf." And the Irish Classical Theatre is in on the caper. Actors will join the musicians for Sunday's performance that turns Kleinhan's into a courtroom and puts the wolf on trial!
This Sunday, Kleinhans Music Hall will be transformed into a magical court room, as Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" go on trial! The Buffalo Philharmonic and the Irish Classical Theatre team up for this very special, and lively family program. One by one, musical characters will be called as witnesses to exonerate the wronged wolf -- accused none the less of "Duckacide." Outlandish? Conductor Ron Spigelman says they do whatever it takes to draw children into the magical world of classical music.
"You know there's nothing quite like having that joy coming from the audience. It's so unbiased and so real. When you hear a child laughing, squealing, clapping, applauding, dancing, jumping -- it's genuine and you can't help but be captivated and really excited by that happening, " said Spigelman. "So, we pretty much push the limit when it comes to children. We want to do anything we can to engage them and excite them about music -- and about coming to see the philharmonic."
This is neither the first, or last on stage adventure for the BPO. Last summer at Artpark, Spigelman says he had to duck once as the Chinese acrobats weaved in and out of the music. And later this month, Spigelman says Cirque du Soleil will once again liven things up.
"(They're) doing some incredible things with the symphony orchestra -- well, not with us, but around us and above us," said Spigelman.
As for Prokofiev's Wolf...well, his fate will be decided this Sunday at 2:30 on stage at Kleinhans Music Hall.