If you are looking for a wonderful way to introduce children to the world of classical music, Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf is hard to beat. On July 12, I attended this musical tale, presented by l’Orchestre de la francophonie at Cirque Éloize. Set in one of Old Montreal’s landmark venues, the performance combined symphonic music and storytelling to create an experience suitable for audiences of all ages.
The program featured Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, under the direction of Marie-Claire Cardinal. Narrator Julien Proulx, joined by Isabelle Cloutier, guided the audience through the story with enthusiasm, making it easy for children to follow while allowing adults to appreciate Prokofiev’s brilliant orchestration, performed by talented young musicians from around the world.
What makes Peter and the Wolf so timeless is its ability to tell a story almost entirely through music. Rather than relying on elaborate visuals, Prokofiev assigns each character a musical voice. Pierre is represented by the warm, energetic string family, whose lively melodies reflect the curiosity and confidence of the ten-year-old boy. The flute chirps as the carefree bird, the oboe quacks playfully as the duck, and the clarinet slips in with a smooth, sneaky melody to portray the cat. Their musical conversations capture the playful interactions between the characters long before a single word is spoken.
As the story continues, the bassoon enters with slow, weighty phrases that perfectly match the worried footsteps of Pierre’s grandfather, who scolds the boy for wandering alone. The atmosphere then shifts dramatically as the wolf arrives, announced by the dark, menacing sound of the French horns. The playful melodies suddenly give way to suspense. Every musical gesture mirrors the action in the story, from the duck’s frantic attempts to escape to the growing tension as the wolf closes in.
One of the most memorable moments comes when Pierre quietly lowers a rope from the tree to capture the wolf. The delicate descending phrases in the orchestra create the impression of the rope slowly dropping, allowing the audience to visualize the scene using sound alone. Later, the arrival of the hunters is marked by triumphant brass and booming percussion, while the orchestra skillfully balances excitement, humour, and suspense until the story reaches its joyful conclusion.
The performance ended on a lighthearted note, with the narrator joking that Pierre and his companions could now take the wolf to Zoo Granby, drawing laughter from children throughout the audience. Peter and the Wolf demonstrated how music can paint vivid images, tell compelling stories, and spark young imaginations. It was an entertaining introduction to classical music that both children and adults could enjoy together.
For more information about performances by L’Orchestre de la Francophonie, click HERE.
