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