The Classics: Carnival of the Animals (2021)

During the Classical animations of 2020, I did complete a version of Carnival of the Animals, while omitting the Wild Asses and Pianists. But, as I later did another film of the piece, complete and absolutely more fun, I thought it better to upload that one rather than the previous one, despite it not being part of the glorious year of 2020.

This Carnival was part of a new revival of the original Classics for Children series from 2018. This would have featured Swan Lake, of which I also completed, and a few others, of which never saw the light of day. A retelling of Carmen, Peer Gynt and the Ring of the Nibelungen in the same style as Swan Lake, as well as A Midsummer Night's Dream and Dvorak's New World Symphony.

Both that and this film follows the same (barrowed) plot: the boy, Camille, unable to attend the carnival (because his piano teacher is coming to give him his lesson) creates his own carnival with his toy animals. This was taken from Jim Gamble's puppet production from 1992, only found on VHS. This was my introduction to the piece and has remained forever after in my mind.

The recording used is probably the best version released. The London Sinfonietta conducted by Charles Dutoit with Cristina Ortiz and Pascal Roge on pianos. Decca 414 460-2, from 1986.

Filmed: 7/4/21-16/4/21