Carnival of the Animals at Chatswood

Attended my first classical concert since coming to Australia.

The Willoughby Symphony Orchestra staged a multimedia performance art concert at the Willoughby Civic Centre Concert Hall featuring Mozart’s Serenata Notturna, Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite, Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale, and Saint Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals. The last two pieces are the main draw because they had a computerized slideshow presentation running in synch with the music.

For Carnival of the Animals, they had two young guest pianists. They started off with the Introduction and Royal March of the Lion, and they are really good! They were a bit off-key with The Pianists, as they were supposed to be. When they got to The Swan, their fingers were just flowing across the keys. Everything is just right, with the minor exception of The Fossils. I think the lady played the xylophone a bit too loud, and didn't blend with the symphony well. Anyway, not bad for 35 bucks.