We went to a National Symphony Orchestra Family Concert at the Kennedy Center a while back. It was Leonard Slatkin’s last Family Concert as musical director of the NSO.
We were running late, but I wish we would’ve gotten there earlier for the instrument “Petting Zoo,” where kids get the chance to see and touch the instruments they’ll hear later in the show. The program was called “All in the Musical Family” and focused on the different families of instruments in the orchestra (percussion, woodwinds, strings, bass). It featured the premiere of TROYJAM, a special NSO commission that brings Homer’s Iliad to life. This particular program was recommended for ages 5 and up, but I would imagine a child between 8 and 10 would’ve enjoyed it. While it only lasted an hour, I believe anyone younger or older would be bored with the show (as we were). I found it to be choppy, not flowing from one segment to the next very well. Maya wouldn’t sit still, and judging from all the little faces looking back at us over the back of their seats, not many children could. Mike Rowe, from the Discovery Channel show “Dirty Jobs,” was the narrator. His witty remarks were one of my favorite parts of the show. There’s actually a name for them – Rowe-isms!
As luck would have it, we were able to attend the concert for free because my sister-in-law had 3 tickets (including free parking!) that she couldn’t use. Maya was more interested in the fountains and the view of the Potomac, so I must say that I don’t think we’ll be going back for a long time unless we somehow get our hands on free tickets once again.
