Debussy: The Toy Box & Poulenc: The Story of Babar (Sergei Kvitko & Ken Beachler)
As a follow up to his acclaimed solo piano CD “Of Lands and People Far Away” (that includes Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition which American Record Guide placed “among the best ever made” and selected it for or its Critics’ Choice 2008 List), pianist/producer Sergei Kvitko, joined by narrator Ken Beachler, creates a CD of entirely different story-telling
Alongside the all-time favorite crowd-pleaser by Francis Poulenc, The Story of Babar, comes a lesser-known work by another Frenchman, Claude Debussy’s La Boîte à joujoux (The Toy Box), presented here for the first time as a version for solo piano and English narration. A perfect match, these two works provide a fun and entertaining way to introduce children to classical music, and yet they are complex and sophisticated enough to be appreciated by a seasoned listener. In any case these witty, charming masterworks are sure to bring a smile to your face!
Claude Debussy: La boîte à joujoux (The Toy Box)
1 Scene 1. Prelude - Inside a Toy Store - Entrances
and Dances - Toy Parade
2 Scene 2. A large green plain - Punch and The Doll –
Battle - Night - Doll’s Prayer - Punch’s Celebration
3 Scene 3. An old farm - Shepherds and Goose-keeper - 20 years later - Epilogue
Francis Poulenc: The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant
4 In the Great Forest - Babar grew fast - Riding on Mother’s back - The Hunter
5 Town - An Old Lady - Exercises - Babar’s car - Babar misses the Great Forest
6 Arthur and Celeste - The Tea Shop - Mothers’ Search - An old bird - Old Lady’s “good-bye”
7 The car ride - King of the Elephants - Long live King Babar! - Invitation to the party
8 Guests arrive - The Wedding and The Coronation - Dancing - Night falls
