The simple, classic delights of childhood – spinning tops, bouncing balls, rocking horses, and talking animals – will reveal the delights of music at The Little Orchestra Society’s next LOLLI-POPS™ CONCERTS: A MUSICAL TOY STORE, Saturday, March 3, at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and Sunday, March 4, at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
In the intimacy of THE KAYE PLAYHOUSE AT HUNTER COLLEGE (68th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues), children and accompanying adults will learn about the elements of music through visual references -- classic toys and games inspire classical music. Single tickets are available for $15 (rear balcony/rear orchestra) and $40 (prime seating).
Bang the Lion, Buzz the Bee, Toot the Bird and Bow the Panda will join guest conductor Daniel Meyer in a program of works by Prokofiev, Bizet, Schumann and Haydn. Direction and choreography of the Lolli-Pops™ series is by Annette Jolles.
Interconnected aural and visual elements will reinforce each other: to visually illustrate a long musical phrase, a ball will soar across the stage; for a staccato passage, the ball’s journeys will be short. The tonal colors of different instruments will be featured as the musicians pass themes and melodies back and forth to each other. Five tops will spin at once with children being encouraged to move with the music.
Every note and every word of the 2011-2012 season is dedicated to the memory of Dino Anagnost, who led The Little Orchestra Society through 32 seasons of joyful music making.
About Lolli-Pops™
In the Lolli-Pops™ series (ages 3-5, 20 performances, 5 open dress rehearsals), the programs introduce young children to the basic elements of music, and incorporate dance, music and visual art with the help of characters who each represent one of the four families of the orchestra. At each Lolli-Pops™ concert children actively participate in the program and also receive musical instruments or educational materials to take home. Preparatory and follow-up activities are sent via email to all concert attendees. The Lolli-Pops™ series was originally created by the Orchestra’s late Music Director, Dino Anagnost.
About Daniel Meyer
Winning acclaim for his dynamic programs, engaging presence and keen musical intellect, Daniel Meyer is at the forefront of American conductors today. A passionate advocate of music education and outreach, Meyer has developed a new series of youth concerts based on popular children’s books to promote music and literacy. Currently Music Director of the Asheville Symphony and Erie Philharmonic, Mr. Meyer’s guest conducting engagements during the 2011-2012 season include the Grand Teton Music Festival, Rochester Philharmonic, Knoxville and Hilton Head Symphony orchestras, and the Westmoreland Symphony, where he serves as Artistic Director.
From 2003 through 2009 Meyer was Resident Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony and Music Director of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony. While there he worked closely with Mariss Jansons, Manfred Honeck, Sir Andrew Davis and Charles Dutoit, led the Pittsburgh Symphony on tour and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony on its first-ever tour to China. Mr. Meyer and the PSO were awarded the 2006 Bank of America Award for Excellence in Orchestra Education.
Mr. Meyer’s 2010-11 season included the Pittsburgh Symphony and the Eugene Symphony, and the Asheville Lyric Opera in performances of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. He also made a critically-acclaimed European debut with the Staatstheater Stuttgart Orchestra, leading a program of Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite, Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with Thomas Zehetmair and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.
In summer festival appearances, Meyer has led the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center, and the Chautauqua and Brevard festival orchestras. He was awarded the 2002 Aspen Conducting Prize and subsequently served as Assistant Conductor to David Zinman at the Aspen Music Festival.
