City of Southampton Orchestra: Family concert returns with bear hunt

The City of Southampton Orchestra put on We’re Going on a Bear Hunt - a programme based around famous bear music - to two shows of large audiences on Saturday, January 21. 

With the conductor John Traill and narrator Phil Cheesman entertaining the crowds with their story-telling and anecdotes, this was a truly pleasant way to spend time with family. 

Leader Bree Enemark and some wonderful performances by the New Forest School of Dance brought the show to life, with children delighted to see a real 'bear' - thankfully a friendly one that liked dancing - appear on stage at the end. 

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The enchanting storytelling of Goldilocks warmed up the crowd and by the time we got to the popular children's book We're Going On a Bear Hunt all were joining in. 

The orchestra - one of the leading non-professional orchestras in the south of England - were superb too, taking us through John Bratton's The Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Eric Coates's The Three Bears, Edward Elgar's The Wand of Youth, Suite no. 2: ‘The Tame Bear’ and ‘The Wild Bear’, Ian Stephens's We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, before finishing with Terry Gilkyson's The Bear Necessities. 

Audience participation was a must and the show was gentle yet entertaining enough to appeal to all ages. 

With questions at the end from children in the audience, this show really did make classical music accessible to all. 

The City of Southampton Orchestra, which is celebrating its 52th anniversary this year, will be next appearing on Saturday, March 18 at 7.30pm at Thornden Hall in Chandlers Ford performing Elgar's Symphony no. 1 with guest conductor Dominic Grier.

It will also be performing Tchaikovsky's Symphony no. 5 on Saturday, May 20 at 7.30pm at Romsey Abbey with conductor John Traill. 

For more go to csorchestra.org/