Families invited to The Monsters’ Ball

Unlike Lady Gaga's Monsters' Ball (I think that was the name of one of her tours), this one is from Children’s Classic Concerts (CCC) and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO). So it will be good, and have less of the pottymouth. 

Sat 1st November 2014, 3.00pm, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Sun 2nd November 2014, 3.00pm, Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Apparently, they are transforming the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the Usher Hall, Edinburgh into spooky ballrooms for a children's introduction to classical music. 

This ought to help me in my attempts to learn about classical music. Only it is recommended for ages 4 to 12. 

It's got those two off  the CCC, too: 'Owen Gunnell and Olly Cox will be dusting off their dancing shoes and inviting the audience to come dressed in their freaky finest for their latest Halloween-inspired celebration.'

Cox says “This is a Hallowe’en concert with a difference because we have a dancing theme. Not only will we have live dancers joining us, but the audience will be invited to get up on to their feet too. We have some fantastic pieces that will all contribute brilliantly to the spooky atmosphere.”



Among the musical treats will be a scene from Prokofiev’s Cinderella (it's ballet music, so I know it) as well as the mighty Montagues and Capulets theme from his music for the ballet of Romeo and Juliet (and that rocks). Grieg will contribute some tricky trolls from Peer Gynt and a specially commissioned Medley of Monsters will feature some scary characters from the cinema. I hope that Ultron is included.


Gunnell chips in. “We are particularly looking forward to telling the story of Robert Burns’ Tam O’ Shanter, with its scary dance scene in Alloway Kirkyard. I am going to play the role of Tam, so my horse Meg and I have been in strict training in order to escape the witches.”

And the RSNO are going to dress up in costumes, too. And there is a star prize for the best dressed audience member. I'll be entering this, no doubt banishing the opposition with my 'creepy critic by himself at children's concert' outfit.


Monsters’ Ball full concert programme:
Khachaturian Sabre Dance from Gayaneh (fast and rocking)

Prokofiev The Montagues and the Capulets from Romeo and Juliet

(a bit metal in its density)

Grieg In the Hall of the Mountain King from Peer Gynt

Arnold Tam O’ Shanter

Johann Strauss II Pizzicato Polka

Arr. Andrew Cottee A Medley of Monsters
Debussy Clair de Lune (the sweet edge of the avant-garde)

Prokofiev Waltz and Midnight from Cinderella

Saint-Saëns Danse Macabre (well scary)

Richard O’ Brien The Time Warp (er... okay)

Conductor Jean-Claude Picard (I hope he dresses up as Jean-Luc)
Presenter Oliver Cox
Presenter Owen Gunnell