NY Phil's Very Young People's Concerts Continue with MAKE BELIEVE, 2/8-9

The New York Philharmonic Very Young People's Concerts (VYPCs), for children ages 3 to 6, will continue its tenth season Sunday, February 8, 2015, at 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. and Monday, February 9 at 10:30 a.m. at Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street. The program, titled Philharmonic Playdates: "Make Believe," is the second installment in a season of concerts casting the instruments as toys, musicians as friends, and musical ideas as games. Philharmonic Associate Principal Viola Rebecca Young is the host and Marion Schoevaert is the illustrator. The "Make Believe" program will feature Dvor?a?k's Slavonic Dance in G minor, Op. 46, No. 8; selections from Mozart's Allegretto con variazioni from Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, K.581; and selections from Saint-Sae?ns's Carnival of the Animals.

The VYPCs are designed by Philharmonic musicians working with faculty from Teachers College of Columbia University to introduce young children to classical music through games, active listening, and hands-on music-making. Before each concert, musicians are stationed throughout Merkin Concert Hall to greet families and initiate musical activities on the day's theme. After each performance, children have an opportunity to try orchestral instruments themselves.

The next Very Young People's Concerts, "Building Blocks," will take place March 22-23, 2015, and will feature Mozart's Horn Quintet in E-flat major.

Single tickets start at $23. Tickets may be purchased online at nyphil.org or by calling (212) 875- 5656, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Tickets may also be purchased at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office. The Box Office opens at 10:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and at noon on Sunday. On performance evenings, the Box Office closes one-half hour after performance time; other evenings it closes at 6:00 p.m. To determine ticket availability, call the New York Philharmonic's Customer Relations Department at (212) 875-5656.