Name: Peter Ustinov reads the Orchestra
Genre: Animation, Short, Music
Released: 1990-09-03
Duration: 40 min
Rating: 5.2
Cast: Peter Ustinov

A poor choice of graphics becomes a major flaw.

This is an apparent continuance, created for television, of a work written by its producer, Canadian Mark Rubin, and released concurrently in book and audio cassette form, with Peter Ustinov doing the reading, and that recording constitutes the sound track here of a work for a different medium, intended for all ages and divided into three parts illustrating artistic functions played by instruments of a symphony orchestra.  Presented are 28 excerpts from various stylistic periods, including classical (Beethoven), romantic (Grieg, Tchaikowsky), and modern (Prokofiev), all played adequately by the Toronto Philharmonic under the baton of Walter Babiak, the mentioned three parts being: a fundamental introduction to orchestral music; a description of the string and woodwind sections; a visual catalogue of those instruments that comprise brass and percussion contingents.  Obviously directed at a very young audience indeed, part one is improved upon in subsequent footage, and although Ustinov's plummy voice swallows words rather too often, a good deal of interesting and useful information is given as he moves through his account of the diverse instruments; it is unfortunate that the eye is forced to tarry upon unimaginative and static graphics, with the figured musicians oddly garbed in the worst examples of 1970s pop apparel.

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

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The music genre features stories showcasing musical performances, music-related documentaries and recordings of live concerts and music festivals.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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Video including the gorgeous water color illustrations from the book, plus Peter Ustinov's erudite narration, and samples of all of the instruments of the orchestra.

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Peter Ustinov reads the Orchestra

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