Maestro Classics

Thanks to the TOS Crew, I got to review The Tortoise and the Hare from Maestro Classics last year, and this year I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to review Peter and the Wolf!
Our entire family gathered together to listen to track #1 and #2. Track #1 is the introduction and does a nice job explaining to the children the instruments and what characters they represent. Track #2 is Peter and the Wolf with narration with a running time of a little more than 25 minutes . My husband may have been the most excited because he has fond memories of Peter and the Wolf as a child! All three children (ages 9, 8, and 5) LOVED listening and learning how each character in the story is represented by an instrument in the symphony orchestra. In no time as the story progressed, they had caught on and were acting out the characters when they heard their assigned instrument.

Each Maestro Classic CD is priced at $16.98 each or you can buy 3 for $45.00.

I would like to clarify that with each CD, you get a lot more than just a story put to music. Peter and the Wolf has a total running time of 68 minutes and 16 seconds.

Track #1: Introduction

Track #2: Peter and the Wolf, for narrator and symphony orchestra

Track #3: About the Composer, Prokofiev

Track #4: A Russian Peter

Track #5: About the Music

Track #6: Peter and the Wolf, Instrumental Version

Track #7: Invitation to Grandfather's Party

Track #8: Kalinka, Dance Along - Trio Voronezh

I would also like to add that you not only get a CD, but a booklet with more information and activities to do together as a family such as dot-to-dot activities, matching the instruments with the corresponding characters, information on Russian folk instruments, and more information on the composer.

From this one CD, I was given a lot of ideas to further our children's learning about the Russian composer - Prokofiev, symphony instruments, and music appreciation. Maestro Classics is an amazing company, and they produce an amazing product. The only thing my husband and I would prefer is to be able to purchase Mp3 downloads of their products instead of having to invest nearly $17 (plus shipping) every time we'd like to purchase one of their products.

Maestro Classics currently has six other titles available, and they include: Casey at the Bat, The Story of Swan Lake, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Juanita the Spanish Lobster, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, and The Tortoise and the Hare."

To read more reviews from other TOS Crew members, please click over to the Crew's blog to read more.

*I received this product free for review purposes only.*