Family Concert – Mike Svoboda: Once Around the World – An Interplay of Text, Image, and Music

Family Concert – Mike Svoboda: *Once Around the World – An Interplay of Text, Image, and Music* invites the whole family to a joyous, cross‑cultural adventure that delights the eyes and ears. In this unique concert film, a small orchestra, a narrator, and animated film bring to life the tale of a mysterious explorer who, a century ago, journeyed from Hastings, England, to Japan, gathering music from the remotest corners of the globe. The program stitches together the cheerful clang of accordions, the resonant drone of alphorns, and melodies from Europe, Africa, America, and Asia into a humorous, entertaining tapestry. Mike Svoboda, the versatile American composer, trombonist, and jazz enthusiast now based in Switzerland, guides the audience through animated sequences and historical postcards while an old gramophone plays historic shellac records—its melodies then woven and amplified by the orchestra. Known for collaborations with Wolfgang Rihm and Frank Zappa and for works ranging from trombone concertos to children’s operas, Svoboda is dedicated to making music accessible to all ages. Join him on this global musical journey, where every note tells a story and every scene stirs the imagination.