Mason Bates’ multimedia concerto Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra is a joyful introduction to classical music for ages 5+.
Grammy-winning composer Bates created the animated film, which is accompanied by a live soundtrack, in collaboration with a multi-Oscar-winning creative team.
The film flies through the instruments of the orchestra to explore the fundamental connections between music, sound, performance, creativity and technology.
Guided by a magical sprite, the film shows violin strings vibrate, brass valves slice air, and drum heads resonate.
Imaginatively blending traditional and modern animation styles, it is a kinetic and compelling guide to the orchestra that engagingly illustrates the intricacies of how instruments work individually and collectively to produce such a huge range of sound.
By the culmination of the piece, the orchestra has overcome its differences of sections and sound to demonstrate unity from diversity in a spectacular finale.
Benjamin Britten’s masterful The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra provides the perfect companion piece to Mason Bates’ work, with presenter and musician YolanDa Brown joining for a new narration written by Aurora’s Writer-in-Residence, Kate Wakeling.
Please note the second performance will now start at 4pm, not 5pm as originally advertised.