Federation Concert Hall, Hobart
November 22, 2018

What if I told you I went to see Tchaikovsky presented by one of the nation’s leading orchestras, and members of the audience broke out in unrestrained episodes of cheer, dance, and song? You probably wouldn’t feel that such a ruckus was worthy of the concert-black donning musicians, who were poised on the evening stage to perform some of history’s finest music. But you’d be wrong. Because what I learnt from this Family Classics concert is that children know far more than we do about what it means to have fun with music.

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra event was called The Nutcracker, although the famous work wasn’t heard until after some festive opening numbers. Broadcast personality Christopher Lawrence took to the Federation Concert Hall stage as MC, introducing the music and rousing the young listeners in the process.

The event, which was conducted by Benjamin Northey, opened with Wasson’s Festive Fanfare for Christmas. For a concertgoer like myself who doesn’t traditionally attend Christmas-themed performances, it was certainly something special to hear the seasonal music presented by the highest-calibre players, and in a lush orchestral setting.

Each of the works...