Opera Preview: The Adventures of Pinocchio, Festival Theatre, Heroes vs Villains, Usher Hall

Published on Tuesday 19 October 2010 16:57

WHAT do Star Wars, James Bond, Indiana Jones, Billy the Kid, Doctor Who and Pinocchio all have in common?

If you are in Edinburgh over the next ten days it's simple. These well know cultural icons have been enlisted to help introduce youngsters to the worlds of opera and classical music.

First, the little wooden boy carves his way onto the stage of the Festival Theatre in Opera North's take on The Adventures of Pinocchio.

Recommend for age 7+ and sung in English, the tale of a little wooden boy who longs to be good is brought to life in this musical tale for all the family. Guided by the blue fairy and chirruping cricket, Pinocchio still can't help tumbling into trouble. First he's tricked by the sly fox and clever cat, then his lying nose is pecked at by woodpeckers, and finally he's captured in the Big Green Fisherman's net and is turned into a performing donkey.

Based on the 1883 book by Carlo Collodi, this revival of Opera North's production, which enjoyed great success when it opened three years ago, was created by award-winning composer Jonathan Dove and librettist Alasdair Middleton. Almost all the original cast and creative team have reassembled for the current tour, including the mezzo-soprano Victoria Simmonds in the title role and international baritone Jonathan Summers, who returns as Geppetto.

The following Sunday (31 October) the RSNO's annual Children's Classic Concerts (CCC) kick off with Heroes vs Villains, which will see Daleks, Indiana Jones and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra battle it out on the stage of the Usher Hall. With some nasty Hallowe'en villains on the prowl, presenters Owen Gunnell and Oliver Cox will need plenty of help if they are going to battle vampires and gunslingers. Luckily, they've also got James Bond on their side, but the whole audience will have to fire cannons at the French army to help the Royal Scottish National Orchestra win the day. Gunnell laughs, " We're going to be under attack, I just hope we can win through." Cox adds, "Yes, but we've got the whole RSNO on our side and the audience will be helping too - we'll have 1,000 extra cannons in the 1812 Overture. That should see off some of the baddies."

Not only will the concert mark the first Edinburgh appearance of newly appointed RSNO assistant conductor, Christian Kluxen, the programme features a host of iconic themes such as John Williams' Imperial March from Star Wars and theme from Iniana Jones, John Barry's music from James Bond, Ennio Morricone's The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Copland's Gun Battle from Billy the Kid and Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture. Not forgetting Robin McEwan's arrangement of Ron Grainer's Doctor Who theme.

Jane Gordon of Children's Classic Concerts says, "We understand that introducing children to classical and orchestral music is a huge responsibility. A positive first experience is crucial, so we make sure that our concerts are full of appealing music and visually interesting - and we always throw in a few surprises to keep the children interested. Our aim is to entertain everyone - parents may themselves be attending a concert for the first time - so fun for all the family is the order of the day."

And remember, even the adults can come dressed as their favourite hero or villain, but only the kids can win a prize.

The Adventures of Pinocchio, Festival Theatre, Nicolson Street, Wednesday-Saturday, various times, 15-27, 0131-529 6000

Heroes vs Villains, Usher Hall, Lothian Road, Sunday 31 October, 3pm, 10 (Child 6/family 29), 0131-228 1155