What follows may disqualify me as a reviewer of the above. First, I never grew up, and at age 62, I have no intention of doing so. Second, I still occasionally watch an episode Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood solely on the grounds that he likes me just the way I am—one of the most empowering benedictions ever bestowed upon a child of any age. As the father of two grown and quite accomplished daughters who were daily regaled during their formative years by the choicest examples of children’s lit that my late wife, a children’s librarian, could obtain, I am well acquainted with the texts that so eloquently inform this release. The Runaway Bunny is from Margaret Brown’s classic 1942 children’s book of the same title; Paddington Bear’s First Concert is based on Michael Bond’s series of children’s books about a marmalade eating bear “from Darkest Peru”; and Tubby the Tuba is the word-half of the 1941–1945 collaboration between author/actor Michael Tripp and composer George Kleinsinger, which over the years has been successfully disseminated via multiple recordings and film animations, and which has been cited by the Library of Congress in 2006 as a landmark in audio history.
The Runaway Bunny was originally conceived by composer Glen Roven as a piece for solo violin, singer, and orchestra—designed as a vehicle for Israeli violinist Ittai Shapira. In the course of the project’s development, Shapira suggested substituting a narrator for the singer. Given the results, it was an excellent choice that spotlights the powerful eloquence of the seemingly modestly unpoetic words. I found the music coupled with Brooke Shields’s narration deeply moving.
Most of the “audio product” aimed at children which has come across my desk over the years has been plagued by mawkishness, condescension, terminal cuteness—afflictions that most children I know find inherently repulsive. On that topic I recently had a conversation with my eldest daughter, who is currently continuing her anthropological studies of Central Asia on a Fulbright grant in Helsinki. I asked her if she, like me, ever felt embarrassed when adults spoke to us, when we were children, in baby talk. Her answer, “I felt more sorry and embarrassed for the adults than for myself.”
The texts on this release are self-recommending and are delivered by Brooke Shields and Stephen Fry as one ageless human being speaking to another, and in ways that uncannily convey the metaphorically richness of the words. The music is witty, urbane, often ironic, and as sophisticated as all children inherently are until our adult-controlled world succeeds in dumbing them down. The music to The Runaway Bunny proves to be a fine ad hoc violin concerto that highlights Ittai Shapira’s estimable skills.
One of this offering’s agendas is to introduce children to the joys and richness of the symphony orchestra. To put this into a larger perspective, this offering is, in its own way, on the exalted level of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf , or Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.
The sound is up to the highest of current standards, and the performances by the Royal Philharmonic conducted by Barry Wordsworth show them in fine fettle, as have so many others by him that currently grace my library.
In searching for a way to close this piece, I was tempted to say something to the effect of “recommended to the child in all of us.” Instead I will take my leave by saying that it helps us to respect the child in all of us, especially that which resides in our children. William Zagorski
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
FANFARE REVIEW for RUNAWAY BUNNY
Barry Wordsworth: ROVEN, CHAPPELL, KLEINSINGER on SONY
Classical Reviews - Composers & Works
Written by William Zagorski
Saturday, 24 May 2008
ROVEN The Runaway Bunny. 1,3 CHAPPELL Paddington Bear's First Concert. 2 KLEINSINGER Tubby the Tuba 2 •Barry Wordsworth, cond; Brooke Shields (nar); 1 Stephen Fry (nar); 2 Ittai Shapira (vn); 3 Royal PO • SONY 22855 (66:42)
The Runaway Bunny/Paddington Bear's First Concert/Tubby the Tuba
Audio CD
Sony Classics
Buy now from Amazon
What follows may disqualify me as a reviewer of the above. First, I never grew up, and at age 62, I have no intention of doing so. Second, I still occasionally watch an episodeMr. Roger's Neighborhood solely on the grounds that he likes me just the way I am—one of the most empowering benedictions ever bestowed upon a child of any age. As the father of two grown and quite accomplished daughters who were daily regaled during their formative years by the choicest examples of children's lit that my late wife, a children's librarian, could obtain, I am well acquainted with the texts that so eloquently inform this release. The Runaway Bunny is from Margaret Brown's classic 1942 children's book of the same title; Paddington Bear's First Concert is based on Michael Bond's series of children's books about a marmalade eating bear "from Darkest Peru"; and Tubby the Tuba is the word-half of the 1941–1945 collaboration between author/actor Michael Tripp and composer George Kleinsinger, which over the years has been successfully disseminated via multiple recordings and film animations, and which has been cited by the Library of Congress in 2006 as a landmark in audio history.
The Runaway Bunny was originally conceived by composer Glen Roven as a piece for solo violin, singer, and orchestra—designed as a vehicle for Israeli violinist Ittai Shapira. In the course of the project's development, Shapira suggested substituting a narrator for the singer. Given the results, it was an excellent choice that spotlights the powerful eloquence of the seemingly modestly unpoetic words. I found the music coupled with Brooke Shields's narration deeply moving.
Most of the "audio product" aimed at children which has come across my desk over the years has been plagued by mawkishness, condescension, terminal cuteness—afflictions that most children I know find inherently repulsive. On that topic I recently had a conversation with my eldest daughter, who is currently continuing her anthropological studies of Central Asia on a Fulbright grant in Helsinki. I asked her if she, like me, ever felt embarrassed when adults spoke to us, when we were children, in baby talk. Her answer, "I felt more sorry and embarrassed for the adults than for myself."
The texts on this release are self-recommending and are delivered by Brooke Shields and Stephen Fry as one ageless human being speaking to another, and in ways that uncannily convey the metaphorically richness of the words. The music is witty, urbane, often ironic, and as sophisticated as all children inherently are until our adult-controlled world succeeds in dumbing them down. The music to The Runaway Bunny proves to be a fine ad hoc violin concerto that highlights Ittai Shapira's estimable skills.
One of this offering's agendas is to introduce children to the joys and richness of the symphony orchestra. To put this into a larger perspective, this offering is, in its own way, on the exalted level of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf , or Britten's The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.
The sound is up to the highest of current standards, and the performances by the Royal Philharmonic conducted by Barry Wordsworth show them in fine fettle, as have so many others by him that currently grace my library.
In searching for a way to close this piece, I was tempted to say something to the effect of "recommended to the child in all of us." Instead I will take my leave by saying that it helps us to respect the child in all of us, especially that which resides in our children.William Zagorski
Classical Reviews - Composers & Works
Written by William Zagorski
Saturday, 24 May 2008
ROVEN The Runaway Bunny. 1,3 CHAPPELL Paddington Bear's First Concert. 2 KLEINSINGER Tubby the Tuba 2 •Barry Wordsworth, cond; Brooke Shields (nar); 1 Stephen Fry (nar); 2 Ittai Shapira (vn); 3 Royal PO • SONY 22855 (66:42)
The Runaway Bunny/Paddington Bear's First Concert/Tubby the Tuba
Audio CD
Sony Classics
Buy now from Amazon
What follows may disqualify me as a reviewer of the above. First, I never grew up, and at age 62, I have no intention of doing so. Second, I still occasionally watch an episodeMr. Roger's Neighborhood solely on the grounds that he likes me just the way I am—one of the most empowering benedictions ever bestowed upon a child of any age. As the father of two grown and quite accomplished daughters who were daily regaled during their formative years by the choicest examples of children's lit that my late wife, a children's librarian, could obtain, I am well acquainted with the texts that so eloquently inform this release. The Runaway Bunny is from Margaret Brown's classic 1942 children's book of the same title; Paddington Bear's First Concert is based on Michael Bond's series of children's books about a marmalade eating bear "from Darkest Peru"; and Tubby the Tuba is the word-half of the 1941–1945 collaboration between author/actor Michael Tripp and composer George Kleinsinger, which over the years has been successfully disseminated via multiple recordings and film animations, and which has been cited by the Library of Congress in 2006 as a landmark in audio history.
The Runaway Bunny was originally conceived by composer Glen Roven as a piece for solo violin, singer, and orchestra—designed as a vehicle for Israeli violinist Ittai Shapira. In the course of the project's development, Shapira suggested substituting a narrator for the singer. Given the results, it was an excellent choice that spotlights the powerful eloquence of the seemingly modestly unpoetic words. I found the music coupled with Brooke Shields's narration deeply moving.
Most of the "audio product" aimed at children which has come across my desk over the years has been plagued by mawkishness, condescension, terminal cuteness—afflictions that most children I know find inherently repulsive. On that topic I recently had a conversation with my eldest daughter, who is currently continuing her anthropological studies of Central Asia on a Fulbright grant in Helsinki. I asked her if she, like me, ever felt embarrassed when adults spoke to us, when we were children, in baby talk. Her answer, "I felt more sorry and embarrassed for the adults than for myself."
The texts on this release are self-recommending and are delivered by Brooke Shields and Stephen Fry as one ageless human being speaking to another, and in ways that uncannily convey the metaphorically richness of the words. The music is witty, urbane, often ironic, and as sophisticated as all children inherently are until our adult-controlled world succeeds in dumbing them down. The music to The Runaway Bunny proves to be a fine ad hoc violin concerto that highlights Ittai Shapira's estimable skills.
One of this offering's agendas is to introduce children to the joys and richness of the symphony orchestra. To put this into a larger perspective, this offering is, in its own way, on the exalted level of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf , or Britten's The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.
The sound is up to the highest of current standards, and the performances by the Royal Philharmonic conducted by Barry Wordsworth show them in fine fettle, as have so many others by him that currently grace my library.
In searching for a way to close this piece, I was tempted to say something to the effect of "recommended to the child in all of us." Instead I will take my leave by saying that it helps us to respect the child in all of us, especially that which resides in our children.William Zagorski
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Creating The Bunny
Brooke Shields will star in the New York premiere concert of The Runaway Bunny, a concerto by Glen Roven, for reader, violin and orchestra at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:30PM in the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage; conducted by Glen Roven. Tickets are on sale now at www.carnegiehall.org
Presented by Medical Development for Israel with the Ilona Feher Foundation, The Runaway Bunny will be featured as part of the Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel Benefit Concert.
Taking the audience through the journeys of the wayward bunny, this special one-night only, star-studded concert introduces both children and adults alike to the beauty and power of classical music. Filling a much-needed gap in the symphonic repertoire for family audiences, The Runaway Bunny touches the hearts of anyone who has had a mother or is a mother. As an organization dedicated to improving the well-being of children, SCMCI is thrilled to be joining hands with fellow child advocates Brooke Shields and the ASO.
In 2006, Emmy award-winning composer Glen Roven collaborated with violin supernova Ittai Shapira to produce The Runaway Bunny recording with Brooke Shields and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. Since its UK release on the SONY/BMG label, millions of listeners have embraced it. Following its recent success across the pond, SONY/BMG is slated to release The Runaway Bunny/Paddington Bear's First Concert/Tubby The Tuba children's classics album in the United States April 8.
The program will include American Symphony Orchestra with conductor Glen Roven and Brooke Shields. Plus violinists Ittai Shapira, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Netanel Draiblate, Arnold Steinhardt, Hagai Shaham and Itamar Zorman.
As this is the World premiere of The Runaway Bunny, as it's Roven's Carnegie Hall conducting debut and as Brooke Shields is graciously appearing as the soloist, Roven discussed how he and Shields got to Carnegie Hall...
How did you get to Brooke Shields?
Actually, that was just about the easiest piece of the "collaborative" puzzle. We had the SONY/BMG deal in place, I had already recorded the orchestra with the Royal Philharmonic and we were looking to add the narrator. We had a list and Brooke's name was at the top. The whole thing with Tom Cruise had broken and Brooke seemed like the perfect mother figure. I had a friend who knew her and one Friday night he went to her dressing room; she was performing in Chicago. She was a huge fan of the book (as is almost everyone!) and twenty minutes later, he called and said she would love to do it. I was thrilled, of course. And just to make me even happier, her agent called that very night to make the deal. I've been in the business long enough to know no Hollywood agent EVER calls at 10PM on a Friday night to say his client was NOT going to do a project.
You mentioned 'almost' everyone loves the book. Who couldn't possibly love this book? Barbarians?
Shrinks! They think it's about a predatory Mother. Ridiculous!
A total pleasure, beginning to end. When she came to the studio she brought her beautiful daughter Ronan, and Ronan's grandmother. I actually didn't put two and two together until after the session when I realized that was Brooke's infamous mother, Terry! That was exciting in retrospect. It was a wonderful performance because Brooke knew the book so well. And obviously loved it. As did her daughter. When she started to record, her daughter screamed out to her mom, "That's my Bunny book!"
So her second baby wasn't born yet?
No. But she was pregnant. And on the EPK (Electronic Press Kit which I believe is on YouTube) you can see her holding the headphones to her belly and letting her unborn daughter hear the music. We were all in tears.
How did you come to write the piece? Did you grow-up with the book?
No. I actually was probably one of the only people in America who didn't know the book. Which explains a lot about me, unfortunately. I was watching the movie Wit one night in bed. When Emma Thompson is about to die, her first grade teacher comes to visit her and she reads her "The Runaway Bunny." I was immediately touched by the few verses read and ordered the book on Amazon. It came a few days later and I simply loved it.
How did the book become a violin concerto?
I was looking for a piece to write for a very well-known Violinist friend of mine, Ittai Shapira. We had recently started doing things together and I figured if I wrote him a piece, he might play it. I'm just another composer trying to get his music played. I figured I had an in.
What about the story suggested a concerto?
The book is extremely episodic. The Bunny wants to run away and become a trout, or a bird, or join a circus. I knew instantly that it could be musicalized. I would "make" the bunny swim, fly, walk the tightrope. And I knew the sound of a Violin would be the perfect soloist in a concerto. The perfect Bunny.
Did Ittai respond to the idea right away?
Oh, yes. But originally I thought about writing it for Violin, Orchestra and Singer. But Ittai suggested I do it for Narrator as it would be easier to find and rehearse a narrator as opposed to a singer. Our talent pool for the narrator would be larger.
What's your favorite part of the piece?
Hard question. I'll tell you the part I'm most proud of. It's the very opening motif. What we call the Hopping Motif. Ba dum, de dum. Ba dum, de dum. After Brooke says, "Once there was a little bunny," the violin plays those eight notes and everyone gets it immediately: that's the bunny. I think that's an amazing thing. That lateral connection. A little piece of wood with strings on it makes a sound of eight notes and it's immediately recognized as the bunny. I love that little kids as well as adults get that.
Is the piece for children?
Well certainly children will enjoy it, I hope. But I know the adults will find it enjoyable. Or at least I hope they will.
How did you get Sony to record the piece?
Actually that's the question all my composer friends ask. Happily, I didn't pay a thing! They wanted to do it. A friend of mine, who started out as a clarinet player in the London pit of Chess, Chris Craker, had his own small label at one time, and that label was bought out by a bigger label, and that label by a bigger one, and after a few years he ended up head of SONY Classical UK. So I went to him and he made it happen. Now he's head of SONY worldwide, so maybe I can get some other stuff recorded.
What was it like hearing it played for the first time?
What do you think? Thrilling, of course. Actually we recorded it on July 13, 2005, my birthday. In London. Sadly, we didn't have the money to rehearse it or even play it down before we went to the recording studio. So I had to hear everything in my head. And I was lucky. When I finally heard the orchestra, I had very few changes to make.
Did the Royal Philharmonic enjoy playing the piece?
Well, when they first saw the title, The Runaway Bunny, I think they figured, "Another boring CD for kids." But once they started playing it, I could see them all lean into their stands more and more. They realized they had to work a bit. It's a very challenging piece for an orchestra. As I guess the American Symphony – the orchestra performing at Carnegie – will find out as well.
You've never conducted the Carnegie orchestra… Are you looking forward to it?
Of course! I didn't conduct the album. Barry Wordsworth did and he really did a great job. So this is my first time conducting the piece, my Carnegie debut, and the first performance of the Concerto.
What are your hopes for the piece?
I'd like every orchestra in the country to play it, what do you think?! And I'd love it to become a ballet. Do you know anyone at NYC Ballet?Ticket proceeds for The Runaway Bunny benefit the Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel. The Benefit Concert featuring the World Premiere of The Runaway Bunny is Tuesday, April 29 at 7:30PM at Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall (57th St./7th Ave
General Tickets $50-$100. To buy tickets, call 212.247.7800, or visit www.carnegiehall.org. To purchase Gala Tickets, call Schneider Children's at 212.759.3370 or visit www.mdinyc.org
For more information visit www.runawaybunnymusic.com
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
FAVORITE RUNAWAY BUNNY AMAZON REVIEWS
Destined to go down in history as a classic, | By | Peter A. Holder (Montreal, Canada) - See all my reviews |
When you listen to the music you can actually visualize the story, bunny hops and all. "The Runaway Bunny" can ignite a child's already vivid imagination and rekindle the imagination of adults. In other words Glen Rove has created a gift for your senses. I suggest you pick up a copy whether you have a child or not.
Peter Anthony Holder Classic Book spawns a new classic,
| By | William Alpert "violin teacher" (Rancho Cucamonga, CA United States) - See all my reviews |
Ittai Shapira's playing is at once expressive and virtuosic. Brooke Shields is spot-on in the vocal characterizations. The recording quality is superlative, as is the Royal Philharmonic under Stephen Fry. It's a fine concerto, splendidly written for the instrument, with the point and energy of Stravinsky, the warmth of Barber and the humor of Prokofiev, all wrapped in a wonderful mix. Glen Roven's Runaway Bunny deserves to take its place in the pantheon of great modern violin literature.
Runaway Bunny a Runaway Hit, I really think this adaptation should be a regular complement to all orchestra performances featuring "Peter and the Wolf." It's one of those rare pieces of art that captivates kids and parents. Brilliant!
-Sally, co-host "Walking on Air with Betsy and Sal"
Brainy, beautiful and charming, | By | Dave King (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews |
Let me also post this review, which I put up quite a while ago on amazon uk:
This is a terrific compilation, but of the three, the piece I return to most frequently is The Runaway Bunny. It's the work's ambition, I think, that so impresses me, for though the familiar story is simple and dear, the music--both the composing and the performance--is thoroughly virtuosic. I recently paired The Runaway Bunny with Peter and the Wolf for a course I taught on cultural transformations, and damned if the Bunny didn't absolutely hold its own against the Wolf! No kidding: essential.
A Winner, | By | Ariel A. Blumenthal (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews |
This is 5 starts for grown ups and kids alike.
My daughters LOVED it!, | By | J. Leeds (Flushing, NY) - See all my reviews |
"The Runaway Bunny" was one of our favorite bedtime books for both of our daughters. They were very familiar with the rhythms and words. To get the beautiful score that Mr. Roven has composed to add to that was like a dream come true.
>>>I surprised both of them on a long car ride we were about to embark on, and we listened to it over and over again calling and singing out what theme was going to pop up next. Joy all around.<<<
As a parent and as a music lover, I highly recommend it.
| A Magical Journey, Glen Roven has once again taken me there and it feels great to be back! Feedback from my 8-yr. old son, From Mom: Very sentimental for all the mom's who adored the book and can now continue to enjoy it by listening to the sophisticated music and beautiful narration that is a perfect complement and allows us all to reminisce as we listen.
|
Classic Classical, | By | John D. Bartone (St. Petersburg, FL United States) - See all my reviews |
Runaway Bunny is a Runaway Hit!!!, | By | M. Schlatter (California, USA) - See all my reviews |
Deeply Moving, A fabulous musical experience for children and parents alike!, A True Classic, | By | Joseph A. Vallo (New York, NY) - See all my reviews |
This is a wonderful addition to our family collection of CDs. It is a classic tale. Our 9 year old daughter truly enjoyed the story and the music. Glen Roven's composition is captivating. It is the perfect combination of Roven's music, Shapita's playing and Shields' lovely narration. This is must have for both for children and adults.
A wonderful gift for your child, | By | Stephen T. Whitestone "Steve Whitestone" (Southern California) - See all my reviews |
| The BUNNY changed my life, |
Hop on out to get this one, | By | Brian Mcnicholl "bramhall" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews |
This Bunny Enchants, | By | Robin Addison (West Yorkshire, UK) - See all my reviews |
This Runaway Bunny makes a Wit-ty addition to any Xmas stocking, | By | alvy_singer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews |
Runaway Bunny will be Runaway hit, | By | Lee Miller (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews |
All Ears!, The Bunny succeeds!!, | By | Lon Bronson "Lon" (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews |
The Bunny succeeds on at least two levels. As a professional Musician, I find Roven's lyrical support of the Story, as well as his striking orchestrations, succeed brilliantly as a symphonic composition proper. Secondly, as a father, I am delighted to see my two children infatuated with "The Bunny" - they can't get enough. A fabulous way to introduce young people to Classical music. The Runaway Bunny is perfect for the Holidays and beyond.
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