Camerata & Kids – Elgar Deconstructed

Edward Elgar: Introduction and Allegro, Op. 47
Johannes van Bree: Allegro for four string quartets

Camerata & Kids is Camerata Zürich’s family programme for children aged 7 and over. In this newly designed format, children and adults experience together in the concert hall how classical music becomes understandable step by step. The works are introduced in an age-appropriate way, brought to life, broken down and reassembled, and explained through small musical observations and experiments so that even young ears can follow them with curiosity.

This concert is entirely dedicated to the strings. Children discover just how varied the sound of a string orchestra can be: at times cohesive and powerful, at others delicate, almost like a conversation between smaller groups. They experience how motifs are passed on, how tension builds, and how many different roles within an ensemble become audible.

In the first part, Evamaria Felder guides the audience through selected musical moments from the two works. She demonstrates, in a child-friendly way, what to listen out for and how a unified sound emerges from many individual voices. In this way, children learn about music not through external explanations, but directly through listening.
The works are then performed in their entirety. What was previously discovered together can now be heard in context. A concert that sparks curiosity, sharpens listening skills and opens up a lively introduction to classical music for children.