Buffalo Philharmonic musicians can say their family concert Sunday afternoon was a real beast – or at least it featured one! Conductor Robert Franz added to the musical fantasy of a concert titled: “Tubby the Tuba meets Beauty and the Beast” by dressing as The Beast!

The concert had 150 students from three local high schools – Grand Island, Amherst, and Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts – onstage singing with the BPO during the Beauty and the Beast Suite. It was the grand finale of a lively performance of a number of classic favorites including “Tubby the Tuba.” I was truly honored to be asked to narrate the story of Tubby and, boy, did all those childhood music lessons pay off! When the BPO emailed me a 74 page score to practice, I suddenly discovered this would be much harder than simply reading a children’s story while the Orchestra played.

Two days before the concert, you might have gotten a kick out of seeing Conductor Franz and me sitting in a coffee shop while he conducted with his hands and hummed the score and I read my parts. He gave me some tips and I went back to practicing at home while listening to a CD.

I had my first rehearsal with the BPO three hours before the concert and then passed the time reading backstage until the 2:30 start time. Conductor Franz likes to surprise, not only the audience, but also his musicians with his costume choices. So, the pictures and video you are seeing here were taken backstage BEFORE any of the BPO musicians had seen him. As you can imagine, he got a big, sunny reaction from everyone when he stepped onstage.

Jacquie and Robert Franz, conductor in costume!

This marked Robert Franz’ last family concert at Kleinhans. He is leaving the BPO this summer after four years to pursue conducting opportunities in other cities, including Houston. His legacy here will live on in the thousands of local children who have come to know and love fine music because of his outreach, excitement, and dedication.

As for me, I have retired my bullfrog imitation which figured so prominently in the Tubby narration. And, what a thrill for this former church organist and high school marching band flute and piccolo player to have shared a small role sitting among the accomplished and world-class musicians of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra!