Disney numbers bring orchestra to life for young ears

Keeping an audience with some 300 children in it entertained for more than hour is no small feat.

Friday saw the Philharmonia keep around 300 children entertained with its repertoire of Disney film scores - quite a feat considering an hour at that age feels like 10 years. Whereas the night before had been about the Philharmonia's orchestra's technical brilliance, Friday was about introducing young children to the wonders of classical music. It's a tough sell. What eight year-old would take Beethoven over Miley Cyrus? But using the ever accessible medium of Disney's film scores, they pulled it off. Cheeky Scottish chappy Paul Rissman (he is, in fact, a highly accomplished musician, composer and educationalist) provided crucial interaction with the audience, guiding us through some of Disney's most important musical works, including excerpts from The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast. Animations on big screens behind the stage kept younger children engaged. While close-up real-time footage of the musicians showed us the mechanics of a working orchestra.

Children from three Abu Dhabi schools provided the vocals, ably accompanying the musicians through Hakuna Matata, Under the Sea and King of the Swingers. At one point, we were even instructed to join in, using lyrics projected on to screens. That these children, both onstage and off, were able to accompany a world-class orchestra, is an introduction to classical music that surely can't be bettered.