Outrageously entertaining and sumptuously recorded, this CD brings together two perennial children’s favourites and couples them with a generous selection (with chamber orchestra) of nursery rhymes with the ever-popular Kenneth McKellar. Beatrice Lillie’s narrations are a hoot and this is one of those rare recordings which uses Ogden Nash’s verses for ‘Carnival of the Animals’.
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67
CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
Carnival of the Animals – zoological fantasy
(verses by Ogden Nash)
Introduction and Royal March of the Lions
Cocks and Hens
Wild asses
Tortoises
Elephants
Kangaroos
Aquarium
People with Long Ears
Cuckoo in the heart of the woods
Aviary
Pianists
Fossils
The Swan*
Finale
Beatrice Lillie, narrator
Kenneth Heath, cello*
Julius Katchen and Gary Graffman, pianos
London Symphony Orchestra
Skitch Henderson
with the co-operation of animals at London Zoo
Uncle Ken’s Nursery Rhymes (trad. arr. Sharples)
Hey diddle dumpling, my son John – London Bridge is falling down – Polly put the kettle on – Here we come gathering nuts in May – Little Jack Horner – Little Miss Muffet
Old Mother Hubbard – Jack and Jill – Three Blind Mice – Hey diddle Diddle, the cock and the fiddle – What are little boys made of – Bye Baby bunting – Ding Dong Bell – Cock-a-doodle-do – Pat-a-cake – Little boy blue – Oh where, oh where, has my little boy gone – The North wind doth blow – Three Little Kittens
Lucy Lockett – Georgie Porgie – Humpty Dumpty – There was a little Man – Ride a cock horse – Doctor Foster went to Gloucester – The Lion and the Unicorn
There was a crooked man – Simple Simon – Old King Cole – Mary, Mary quite contrary – Goosey goosey gander – There was an old Woman – Pussy cat, pussy cat – I love little pussy – Hush-a-bye Baby
Kenneth McKellar
Accompaniment directed by Robert Sharples
‘it will appeal to children of all ages … a collector’s item’ Penguin Guide to CDs (2000 Yearbook)