"How Mr. Silver Stole the Show" was based on a children's book written in 2023 by Kate Klise. It's about a stray cat that walked into the Hamilton Hotel in St. Louis in 1947. Two days later he won first prize in two categories (Best Color for Kittens and Best in the Non-Champion Class) at the Greater St. Louis Cat Club Show.
The event took place in a beautiful Art Deco building that started life as a synagogue. When the congregation moved the building became a community music school for a couple of decades and now houses the music school of Washington University.The program began with Maurice Ravel's "Mother Goose Suite". After that ended the musicians on the left side of the stage moved their chairs slightly and a large screen descended from the ceiling. Two narrators (the composer and a local media celebrity) took their places at music stands at the front of the stage. Even though the orchestra had already gone through their opening routine they did it again. The concertmaster entered, the instruments were tuned. The conductor entered to applause, bowed, then turned and started.
Illustrations from the book were projected onto the screen during the piece. The narrators and the orchestra did a great job of tag-teaming to bring the story to life. Of course the story had a happy ending. When the last note was played the conductor turned around to acknowledge the enthusiastic clapping from the audience. He had the soloists, then the entire orchestra, stand for recognition before the house lights came on for intermission.During intermission the shelter we foster with was there with a information table and a litter of incredibly cute kittens. It was fun to talk with the other volunteers before returning back to our seats for the second portion, Paul Hindemith's "Symphonic Metamorphosis".
How exciting! Thanks for bringing us along. Funny, I'm sharing a special symphonic short video in a couple of days. Hope you catch it. My husband's dementia is continuing and we don't know how long he will be with us period so it's a daily challenge and very exhausting but a blessing still seeing him touching him being recognized by him and helping him to feel better period he's getting amazing care by loving people and his sweet personality is thereThank God he's notUpset or in pain or anything like that. I just wanted you to understand why I haven't been around so much a lot going onIncluding mom's death last monthSoIt's a lotBut keeping my blog going is very important to me and I so appreciate our friendly communion Aloha Kathy
ReplyDeleteCloudia, thank you for the comment but no apology is necessary :-)
DeleteWhat a great way to spend an afternoon, and for such a good cause. Glad you were able to participate and share with us.
ReplyDeleteTony and I decided we should search out more activities like this one.
DeleteThis is one of the reasons I read blogs; to read about things I would never in my life do myself!
ReplyDeleteInteresting, because I could say the same thing about your blog!
DeleteHow fun. Sounds like a fun time.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun outing.
ReplyDeleteMixed media theatre can be quite compelling. Like.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember the last time I mixed my media :-0
DeleteHow marvelous! Was this concert a fundraiser or a benefit for local animal shelters? Works and productions like this often end up being performed by other symphonies too around the country or, indeed, the world. I'm keeping my eyes peeled now in case it ever makes it to Edmonton!
ReplyDeleteI think having the shelter there was a happy side effect of a long-planned orchestra concert.
DeleteHow I would love this!! In fact, I want to tell my songwriting son to write music set to a children's book. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!
DeleteThat sounds wonderful, and what a brilliant way to encourage interest in fostering cats.
ReplyDeleteAs much as 'cat people' like interacting with adult cats, I think kittens are a much greater draw.
DeleteThat is really cool! My kids went to see Lord of the Rings movie with a live orchestra. Great stuff.
ReplyDeleteThe orchestra here schedules concerts like that. I think it's a great way to get more people into the seats.
DeleteOh this sounds like such a magical event.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds delightful.
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