The Snowman, Perth Symphony Orchestra ·
Scotch College, 11 December 2022 ·
Review by Hannah Peterson (age 11) ·

Walking into a crowded auditorium to see the Perth Symphony Orchestra play along to the movie The Snowman, I didn’t really know what to expect. The stage was decorated with Christmas trees, presents, and snowmen and the orchestra musicians were seated in their best and most fun Christmas hats and outfits, which created a festive feel. The orchestral Christmas songs playing in the background set the mood.  

Conductor Larissa Brooke walked out onto the stage shining in the most sparkly sequined outfit ready to lead in the orchestra. Audience participation got the crowd in the mood with an introduction from the Elf, who was the host of the show – she was fun and interactive and all the kids thought she was amazing.  

It turned out the show couldn’t start as a few members of the orchestra were missing and it became a game to look around and find them. Every time a musician was found they would give a fun, short description of the instrument they played and then played a tune. I especially liked the bass clarinet as the musician had a great sense of humour and played 
us Santa’s fart, which made everyone laugh. 

The Snowman is a silent movie and, instead of talking, the instruments and the music tell the story. This makes watching it a different experience and shows how music can convey emotion and feelings: happy, sad, excited, sleepy, energetic and playful.  

The movie starts with a little boy playing in the snow and he builds a snowman. In the middle of the night, while his parents are sleeping, he gets up and discovers his snowman has come to life. He runs downstairs to greet the snowman and his adventure begins. 

The pair explore his house and have a tonne of fun. My favourite part was when the snowman and the boy went into his parents’ room and they dressed up the snowman and did his make-up – so funny!  

Together they go on many adventures in the night, motorcycle riding and even flying over the lands to visit Santa. This part was made even more amazing when a boy named Oliver came on stage in his pyjamas and sang like an angel, adding a magical touch to the film.  

The mood lifted when the boy and snowman arrived at the top of the mountain where all the other snowmen and Santa waited. The music turned upbeat and great for dancing. Back at the house, the boy and the snowman said goodbye and the boy went back to sleep. When he woke, the snowman was gone. 

After the movie was over, the orchestra played some Christmas carols and we all sung along, which really put everyone in the Christmas spirit. Santa came, too, which made all the kids super excited.  

The Perth Symphony Orchestra put on a great show. I would rate this an eight out of 10 because it was super cool and fun. I would recommend this especially for children agef 3-7, but it is enjoyable at any age.

Perth Symphony Orchestra’s 2023 season kicks off with ABBA Symphonic on 9 February at Joondalup Resort.

Pictured top: The Perth Symphony Orchestra delights audiences young and old with ‘The Snowman’.