In Tuesday’s (5/1) Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), Stuart Low writes, “Like many parents, Brighton oncologist Sidney Sobel learned Dr. Seuss’ stories by reading them to his children. But unlike other bedtime storytellers, he decided that his favorite tale should be heard in a concert hall packed with listeners. So he commissioned composer Lorenzo Palomo to write The Sneetches—a kid-friendly piece that gets its local premiere this weekend with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and narrator John de Lancie. … Published in 1961, The Sneetches is one of Dr. Seuss’ most outspoken fables. Its squabbling heroes are a colony of yellow creatures deeply at odds over their tummies. … [One character’s] makeovers turn the Sneetches’ views of status and discrimination upside-down. ‘I believe this story has the potential to change behavior,’ declares Sobel. … To narrate The Sneetches for its RPO debut, Sobel recruited de Lancie—an actor who has achieved intergalactic fame as Q in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Saturday and Sunday’s performances will be conducted by RPO music director Arild Remmereit at Hochstein Performance Hall, with Palomo in the audience. Images from Dr. Seuss’ book will be projected on a screen above the orchestra.”
Posted May 2, 2012
