Holiday Pops, Kids Concert Report

Took in today's Holiday Pops matinee with the 55-month old. There were some clear improvements in the second season of the kids concerts. For one, the glacially-slow narrated story, "The Snowman," the great downer of last year's show, was mercifully removed from the proceedings. A Grinch-segment, starring local actor Will LeBow, was much sharper. There was also considerably more showmanship, from twirling basses to goofy dance steps from the Tanglewood Festival Chorus.

Our lunch did spark an interesting debate. Namely, who developed the peanut butter-and-jelly sphere presented as a sandwich? (I am almost positive a traditional, Wonder Bread-looking PB & J was served last year.) We poked and prodded at the thing, and eventually determined it was better left alone. The Pops punch and cookie were better received.

Here's Sarah Rodman's recent Holiday Pops review. Bear in mind, the Kids Matinee concerts - you can check out the entire schedule here - are smartly not much longer than an hour.