‘Stone Soup’: What to expect, for all ages

Whether this is the first time that your family is visiting Symphony Center, or if you have attended a Once Upon a Symphony concert before, expect a fun and memorable experience when you settle into your seats for “Stone Soup.”

ABOUT THE CONCERT EXPERIENCE

What is Once Upon a Symphony?

While many parents of young children tend to avoid orchestral concerts because of behavioral expectations at such events, Once Upon a Symphony is designed to remove these barriers and invite young children into the performance through developmentally appropriate content and techniques.

Imagine a traditional orchestra concert: a dark concert hall full of people, where everyone is expected to sit still and quiet for a long time, listening to music that is beautiful but perhaps unfamiliar. It may seem that there are many unwritten rules for audience behavior and that applauding at the “wrong” time is frowned upon. Even at family-friendly programs, trying to take a crying or upset child out of the concert hall can be difficult, but staying in the hall can be disruptive and stressful, too.

Once Upon a Symphony is very different from a traditional orchestra concert. Designed especially for 3- to 5-year-old children, Once Upon a Symphony creates an experience that will welcome your child into a safe, interactive environment. Research shows that children learn by seeing, hearing and doing, and their experience at Once Upon a Symphony will engage them in each of these ways.

What will we see at Once Upon a Symphony?

Once Upon a Symphony combines music and storytelling to introduce young children to the amazing world of classical music. This performance will explore the story of “Stone Soup” in an original production featuring music performed by members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, with sets, costumes and projections designed by Chicago Children’s Theatre.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE CONCERT

What should we do before we visit Symphony Center?

There are several things that you can do to prepare for this experience and thus make your visit to Symphony Center more enjoyable and memorable:

• Introduce your children to the story of Stone Soup. We suggest any of these beautifully illustrated versions, which can be found at your local library, bookseller or online at Amazon.com:
  
  
• Stone Soup by Ann McGovern and Winslow Pinney Pels
• Stone Soup by Jon J. Muth
• Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
• Sopa de Piedras by Marcia Brown
• Stone Soup by Heather Forest and Susan Gaber

Please note that the Once Upon a Symphony adaptation of this story may differ slightly from these versions. We recommend drawing attention to the following elements, which are emphasized in our adaptation of the story:

• The townspeople are so selfish that they can’t even make music together.
• Everyone has a distinct contribution to make to his or her community.
• To introduce your child to the music they will hear on this program, purchase recordings or download a playlist of the concert repertoire through Spotify. Listen to this music in the days before your visit to Symphony Center, and explore how the music portrays the activities or images suggested, which are central parts of the Once Upon a Symphony performance:
  
  
  • The music expresses the daily life of a community when everyone is contributing to the over-all good of society.
  • The melody is also the basis for our song that is sung every time a new ingredient is added to the pot of soup. Try listening to the melody and singing these lyrics with your child:
    
    Help me make some stone soup, stone soup,
    Made with love and sharing.
    Bring your bits and pieces, pieces.
    Less makes more, together.
    
• Variations on a Theme by Haydn (chorale) by Johannes Brahms

• Magic Fire Music from Die Walküre by Richard Wagner
• This music is heard as the traveler builds the fire and prepares to make the soup that will entice the villagers from their homes.
• Daphne et Chloe – Suite 2 (opening) by Maurice Ravel
• This music symbolizes the water being added to the pot of soup.
• Variations on a Theme by Haydn (finale) by Johannes Brahms
• This music delights in the communal effort of preparing the pot of soup. It also expresses the collective joy the villagers feel after freeing themselves from their selfish ways.

What will we experience at Symphony Center?

Once Upon a Symphony will be presented in Buntrock Hall and in the Rotunda of Symphony Center.

• “Stone Soup” will be performed in Buntrock Hall at 10 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. on Jan. 7 (with repeats Feb 25). There are no assigned seats, so sit wherever you are comfortable.
• The performance will include moments where you will be encouraged to sing, dance and move along with the artists. It is very important that you be a good model and participate alongside your child; your child will respond most energetically if he or she sees you having fun, too. Please note that no child will be forced to participate in any way that would make him or her feel uncomfortable.
• If your child becomes upset or restless during the performance, you are free to leave Buntrock Hall and re-enter later. Remember, if your child starts to cry, it is their way of saying, “I need a break.” It’s OK — stay calm.
• CSO ushers and volunteers will be on hand to help ensure that you and your child have a safe and enjoyable experience.