Originally composed in 1936, the piece famously uses personified instruments in the orchestra to tell the story — also penned by the composer — of young Peter and his animal friends the Duck, the Bird and even a mischievous Cat (represented by an oboe, flute and clarinet, respectively). Peter, himself represented by the string section, becomes an unsuspecting hero and frees his small Russian village from the Wolf (French horns) intent on menacing the whole town — not to mention Peter’s beloved animal friends.
Conceived and directed by award-winning animator Suzie Templeton, this modern-day “Peter and the Wolf” uses stop-frame model animation, puppets and digital photography to re-tell this enduring classic, and features the Philharmonia Orchestra under the direction of Mark Stephenson performing Prokofiev’s iconic score.
Winner of an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film
Wednesday at 8 p.m. on PBS-HD.