Carnival of the Animals

While on a class trip to the Natural History Museum, young Oliver wanders off and falls asleep, only to discover that his classmates, family, and teachers have turned into the animals from the museum displays: His librarian becomes a portly kangaroo; the headmaster becomes a pompous lion; and his great-aunt is a stately swan.

Told as a story for the first time, the jubilant text that accompanies Camille Saint-Saëns's composition was originally written by John Lithgow for a New York City Ballet production of Carnival of the Animals, in which he narrated the story and danced the part of Mabel Buntz, the school nurse who waltzes at the Elephant Ball. Boris Kulikov's inspired illustrations glow with the light of a theatrical performance and illuminate the magic of this wondrous night.

On the enclosed CD, John Lithgow recites the text, and members of Chamber Music Los Angeles, under the direction of Bill Elliott, play the complete composition.