Children's author and broadcaster Michael Rosen was the effervescent compere of this family-friendly CBSO concert which introduced some of the younger members of the audience to the thrill of an orchestra.
The jovial host set children at ease as he introduced a lively first half of classical music associated with some of the best-selling children’s stories from The Hobbit to Harry Potter.
The first section was all about the familiar classics as a casually-dressed and relaxed looking CBSO, led by conductor James Morgan, performed the rousing and confrontational Prokofiev’s Montagues and Capulets (from Romeo and Juliet) to the chaotic and fast-paced The Knight Bus by John Williams from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
The second half was dramatically different in that Rosen encouraged the audience to help him compose a theme tune for the fictional Mr Enormo Biggins’ Great Fun Park.
We were taken on a musical version of a time machine and the orchestra donned pirate hats, swimming goggles, stetsons and sunglasses as the music leapt from the wild west to intergalactic space.
There were a few pantomime moments as Rosen invited youngsters to throw imaginary orange pips at pirates, make the sound of killer bees and even a soupçon of “oh no it isn’t!”.
But it was a shame we only got to enjoy a brief appearance by soprano Juliette Pochin, whose entrance onto the stage in a fiery red cocktail dress was made to look accidental.
Nevertheless, the concert was a great way of introducing families to the city’s fabulous orchestra.
