Musical Adventures

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The Man Who Never Was & the Mystery Of The Spanish Gardens

Prokofiev's brilliant "Lieutenant Kijé" plus Falla's "Nights in the Gardens of Spain"

Tsar Paul I was mad about soldiers! He hated school so his reading was a disgrace. When he makes a stupid mistake reading a letter, his General has to invent a brilliant soldier called Lieutenant Kije.This hilarious story, originally a film score by Prokofiev, features the famous Sleighride (Troika ) as you find out what happened to “The Man who Never Was”.

Set in the magnificent Alhambra Palace in Spain, “The Mystery of the Spanish Gardens” tells the tale of a Cruel Sultan, a Hand and a Key and the Fountains of the Lions. Moorish legends – Spanish intrigue. True or false? You decide.

Ann Rachlin narrates two stories set to the music of Prokofiev and Falla. The music is heard in its entirety and is played by The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by André Previn (Kije) and the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. (Spanish Gardens)

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Sinbad And The Wizard Eagle

Scheherazade's thrilling tale intrigues a Sultan

A musical shipwreck brings the exhausted Sinbad to a deserted island. A chance encounter with the Wizard Eagle leads him to the rescue of a beautiful Princess. Thrilling cliffhangers make this an exciting story that can last four nights! Perfect for bedtime or in the car!

Ann Rachlin narrates her story to the music of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade" which is heard in its entirety, played by The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Constantin Silvestri.

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Seasons Greetings From Vivaldi

How Vivaldi wrote his 'Four Seasons'

The birds, the storms, the North Wind, the hiccoughs of the drunken farmers and even the bluebottles on a summer picnic, the snow, the ice cracking on the pond - Vivaldi described it all in his popular "Four Seasons" and annotated each detail in sonnet form on his score. Ann Rachlin has brilliantly woven them all into her musical story of the journey through the seasons, led by Father Vivaldi and seen through the eyes of 18th century Italian farmers.

The music is heard in its entirety played by the Polish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Jerzy Maksymiuk. Solo violin: Krzysztof Jakowicz

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Mandy And The Magic Butterfly

Mandy's Adventure in Musical Insect Land.

Designed for younger children, Mandy's search for the Magic Butterfly leads her on a fascinating adventure through the insect world. Accompanied by the friendly Bee, Mandy meets Prokofiev's dragonflies and grasshoppers, Vivaldi's bluebottles, Rimsky-Korsakov's Bee, wasps and ladybugs and many more.

This gentle story shows us how the insects view us humans. The Magic Butterfly teaches that even the most humble insect is a living creature and we should not interfere with its life. Listening to Ann Rachlin tell the story, the children learn to love the music but also to respect Nature and her creatures.

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The Love for Three Oranges & Atishoo Of Lies

The Story of Prokofiev's Opera plus Kodaly's 'Hary Janos'

A Giant Cook! A witch with an ugly daughter! An absent-minded wizard and three princesses locked up inside three oranges! Add to this a crazy Hungarian peasant who claims he defeated Napoleon!

Fabulously exciting music by Prokofiev and Kodaly performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra!

Two wonderful zany stories on one CD! Fabulous exciting music by Prokofiev and Kodaly! Ann Rachlin tells these wild and wonderful stories using her virtuoso technique so that the music and narration blend perfectly together.

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The King Who Broke His Promise, A Spooky Halloween & The Sad Dance

Two colourful Russian legends plus a wistful French tale

A greedy King whose army was a disgrace because he only thought of food was the key character in this old Russian folk tale. Ann Rachlin tells the mysterious story of the downfall of King Dodon to the music of the suite from Rimsky-Korsakov's colourful opera "The Golden Cockerel". A huge favourite amongst Ann's young listeners.

Need something spooky with music for Halloween? You can do no better than Ann's tale set to Mussorgsky's famous "Night on a Bare Mountain" in which he describes the frenzied dancing of the witches until the good sound of the church bell disperses them for ever.

In "The Sad Dance" Ann's inspired setting of a gentle story by Guy de Maupassant to the music of Sibelius' haunting waltz is touching and poignant, with a perfect match of words and music.