Un monde fantastique ─ Initiation ?La Musique Classique

The French version of the 2014 publication Simply Fantastic, Un monde fantastique is children’s guidebook to the fantastical characters and creatures found in classical music

The works of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, and others are introduced to children through the magical beings from legends and classic tales—including gnomes, fairies, witches, goblins, elves, and wizards—that inspired the composers. An original and interesting way for younger listeners to discover classical music, this book pairs three centuries of music history with stunning and evocative illustrations and includes a glossary of musical terms, a short biography of each composer, and a brief presentation of each extraordinary character. The accompanying CD features 20 excerpts from various recordings performed by world-class luminaries, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, La Scala Chorus and Orchestra, and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.

Ana Gerhard studied as a concert pianist at the Mexican National Conservatory. She has taught piano for several years and has hosted numerous radio programs dedicated to the promotion of classical music. She is the author ofListen to the Birds. Claudia Legnazzi studied at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires and has illustrated children’s books for the past 25 years. She has won numerous awards, including the Argentina Book Chamber’s Album of the Year and Mexico’s International Prize for Illustrated Books. Some of her work has been acquired by the Chihiro Art Museum of Japan and belongs to its permanent collection.