Common Sense Note
Parents should know that this CD is a wonderful way to introduce kids to Spanish-style music. The only this that might make parents pause for a moment is Juanita's jaunty put-down refrain: "Ah, shut-up, you make-a me sick-a!"
Families can talk about the use of musical styles, instruments, and even amplitude to convey a story. They can also discuss the morale of the story –- a crabby lobster learns to appreciate her lot in life.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Erika Milvy
JUANITA THE SPANISH LOBSTER is a wonderful, kid-pleasing composition that's part of Magic Maestro's Stories in Music series. In addition to the thoughtful, helpful narration that guides young and older ears into careful listening, this Spanish-flavored offering has funny voices and amusing characters to better hook young hearts and minds.
Juanita is a gloriously witty and engaging opera in which a haughty malcontent diva of a lobster learns to appreciate the life aquatic. While Peter and the Wolf helped kids listen to the instruments, here the story and the music are put in context with aural lessons (no, not at all boring!) on the history and background of this bravura comic opera, its composer, and his original source material.
Bel Canto opera and flamenco styles are illustrated and clarified with the help of the London Symphony Orchestra and Yadu, a narrator with a knack for funny crustacean voices. Explaining and illustrating with musical snippets, the CD includes a lecture track about the music (flamenco, recitative, as well as the use of castanets and pizzicato, are nicely illuminated.)
Just for fun, (in case there's too much learning) a sing-along Elvis-style version of the lovelorn lobster's aria is included.
After hearing the "About the Story" and "About the Music" tracks, families might choose to just enjoy the opera, without the supplemental tracks. Lyrics like "You are the ocean's rarest crustacean," are witty fun, and the story of how Juanita gets captured by a fisherman and gets herself in hot water is truly a nail-biter.
A cautionary note to parents with a low sass-threshold: Your kids will want to imitate Juanita's jaunty put-down refrain ("Ah, shut-up, you make-a me sick-a!") But, in truth, Yadu's characterization is quite entertaining and perhaps this is how Charo got her start.
Fans of this CD might also enjoy Animal Crackers.
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Social BehaviorA malcontent lobster is mean and selfish but learns her lesson. |
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