Itzhak Perlman, the violinist on this album, possesses a considerable gift for acting and is skilled at imitating different dialects and foreign accents.
Composition History
Sergei Prokofiev, a Russian composer, wrote Peter and the Wolf, based on an old Russian folk tale, to introduce children to the main instruments of the orchestra.
Composition History
Camille Saint-Saëns, a French composer, wrote his 'Grande Fantaisie zoologique' (Carnival of the Animals) while on holiday in Austria in 1886.
Compositional Technique
In Peter and the Wolf, Prokofiev artfully associates each character with a particular instrument, such as the crafty cat with the clarinet and the hungry wolf with three horns.
Performer Biography
Itzhak Perlman is a master storyteller, known for weaving tales full of surprise and imagination, and has lent his voice to several recordings of children's classics.
Notable Performances
The first public performance of Saint-Saëns's Carnival of the Animals occurred two months after his death in 1921, conducted by Gabriel Pierné.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Saint-Saëns initially reserved Carnival of the Animals for private performances to protect his reputation as a distinguished composer of concertos, symphonies, and opera.
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