Could there be a better day than Halloween for the National Symphony Orchestra to begin its Family Concert Series?
Conductor Brett Mitchell doesn’t think so, which is why he and the NSO present the program, “Spooky Sounds and Scary Tales” at 1 p.m., with an encore presentation at 3 p.m.
In the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, an audience of costumed trick-or-treaters and their families will be regaled with magical music, while outside, in the Kennedy Center Atrium, the Women’s Committee for the NSO has transformed the space into a “Haunted Hall.” Here, ghouls and goblins can watch the witches brewing potions, have their faces painted and experience the musical instrument “petting zoo” at 11:30 p.m. and then again at 1:30 p.m. before each concert. Maestro Mouse and Mosby the Cat, as well as other costumed characters, will roam the grounds.
Mitchell, the newly appointed music director of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra, is every bit as excited as the children he will entertain.
“I have always considered myself a kid at heart, and my favorite time of the year is the holidays,” he said. “It’s not just exciting for our audiences, but for all of us onstage.”
He and the members of the orchestra will appear in costume as well, but Mitchell refused to elaborate. After all, there should be a few surprises for the day.
The program, however, is no secret. Coming in at under an hour, the program has been arranged in what Mitchell calls “manageable chunks” in terms of the length of each piece.
“I interact [and] speak with the kids between every piece … to give [them] signposts to hang on to as we take them through a musical journey,” he said.
This journey will feature pieces such as “Hedwig’s Theme” from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” “The Witch’s Ride” from “Hansel and Gretel,” the “March” from “Superman” and Dukas’ iconic piece, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.”
“This whole program has been designed to be as family-friendly as possible,” Mitchell said.
When asked about his Q&A with the kids after the last show, he laughed and noted, “A kid will ask anything and everything. Some of the most thoughtful questions I’ve ever gotten came from kids [because] there are no preconceived notions.”
