Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra, Tom Newall

For the latest in our RNCM Young Explorers Series, we journey into the magical world of the Arabian Nights. One Thousand and One Nights – a rich treasury of ancient tales written in Arabic – has thrilled people the world over with its amazing stories of Aladdin, Ali Baba, Sinbad and hundreds more. All the stories in the collection are told by Scheherazade, a clever woman who preserved her life each night by keeping her murderous husband in suspense for the outcome of another tale.

The Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov is only one of many creative artists – authors, film-makers, even video game and hip-hop artists – whose imaginations have been fired by these tales and the heroic figure of Scheherazade. His interpretation is one of the most beloved and most colourful works in the orchestral repertoire.

Our Young Explorers concerts are a brilliant way to introduce children to family-friendly, relaxed performances of classical music. And as a special treat, during this afternoon’s performance, artist James Mayhew will be illustrating episodes from these exciting stories live on stage.

Suitable for ages 7 and above