Halloween Spooktacular

Halloween Spooktacular
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
October 29, 2016

For most kids, the idea of sitting through a concert of classical music isn’t an appealing thought. To encourage the attendance of children, the Colorado Symphony has its annual Halloween Spooktacular. All the musicians dress up (some more creatively than others!) and the audience is also encouraged to wear costumes. Many of the adults dress up as well. Before the show, kids had the option to make Halloween themed crafts.

The concert began with the conductor striding onstage dressed as Darth Vader and leading the musicians in The Imperial March from Star Wars. That immediately caught everyone’s attention. After a warm up of popular pieces, the concert added some classical pieces. The conductor patiently went over themes in The Noon Witch and instrumental characterizations in A Conversation Between Beauty and the Beast. He also gave an animated description of the action in Wagner’s Rise of the Valkyries. To aid in the fun of the music, he changed costumes often to complement the music.

The concert ended with The Raider’s March from the Indiana Jones films and three pieces from the Harry Potter movies. As the kids left the concert hall, each was handed a goodie bag with small treats and toys inside. With the annual Spooktacular concerts, the Colorado Symphony has created the perfect atmosphere to introduce children to classical music.