The Los Angeles Philharmonic Performs Against A Vibrant Backdrop Of Theatrical And Pop-Up Images

Art-Making, Dance, and Storytelling Are Among the Pre-Concert Activities Beginning at 10 AM

Sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales USA

The Toyota Symphonies for Youth series featuring the Los Angeles Philharmonic continues at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday, April 23, with SoundCzech: Remembering Home. The orchestra performs selections from three Czech composers as children are taken on a tour of Prague through a delightful theatrical performance that includes vibrant pop-up images. Families are invited to take part in the pre-concert activities including arts, crafts, dance, and storytelling beginning at 10 a.m. with the one-hour concert following at 11 a.m. SoundCzech: Remembering Home is the fifth concert of the 2004/2005 Toyota Symphonies for Youth series.

SoundCzech: Remembering Home, written and directed by Jane McEneaney, is an invitation to celebrate the birthday of Po, a fictional Czech artist, who recalls his beloved homeland on this very special day. Po enlists the Los Angeles Philharmonic to bring to life the music he remembers hearing as a boy. As the story unfolds, Po offers insights into the composers and their works: Julius Fucik's Entrance of the Gladiators, Antonín Dvorák's Carnival Overture, and Smetana's Vltava. Po then inspires Joana Carneiro, Conducting Fellow of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, to recall her native Lisbon, Portugal. By remembering home, Po inspires all to cherish the everyday places and events that make life special.

Throughout the 2004/2005 season, the Toyota Symphonies for Youth concerts have been exploring orchestral music through a variety of themes and theatrical performances in an effort to create an exciting and accessible way to appreciate the arts.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic's Toyota Symphonies for Youth series take place on six Saturday mornings throughout the season and is designed for children ages 5-11 and their families. Before every concert, the Walt Disney Concert Hall becomes a musical playground with hands-on art making, musical activities, dance, theater, and storytelling. Workshops take place in the lobby and garden spaces one hour prior to the performance. Families should plan to arrive early and spend the morning making music, meeting musicians, listening to stories, learning to sing, and creating art projects with all activities revolving around the day's featured musical theme.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

SATURDAY, APRIL 23 (pre-concert activities begin at 10 AM; Concert at 11 AM)

Walt Disney Concert Hall

151 S. Grand Ave, Los Angeles

TOYOTA SYMPHONIES FOR YOUTH

LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

JOANA CARNEIRO, conductor

JANE McENEANEY, writer and director

JOHN BURTON, Scenic Artist & Pop-Up Engineer

TOBY FULP, Set Designer

ELA JO ERWIN, Costume Designer

T. STIRLIN BURK, Lighting Designer

SIMON ANTHONY, Actor (Po)

P. ADAM WALSH, Actor (Pim)

SoundCzech: Remembering Home

Program to include:

FUCIK Entrance of the Gladiators

DVORÁK Carnival Overture

SMETANA Vltava

DVORÁK Slavonic Dance, Op. 72, No. 7

TICKETS ($15) are extremely limited for all performances and are on sale at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office and by credit card phone order at 323.850.2000.

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Adam Crane, 213.972.3034; Cathy Williams, 213.972.3689; photos: 213.972.3034