Film Symphony Orchestra Brings Toon Story Concert to Tarragona

The Film Symphony Orchestra (FSO) will bring its current tour, “Toon Story,” to the CaixaBank Tarraco Arena in Tarragona on Saturday, June 20, at 7:30 p.m. Led by director and music educator Constantino Martínez-Orts, the performance focuses on the evolution of animated cinema scores, spanning from traditional Disney classics to modern works like “Kung Fu Panda” and “Princess Mononoke.”

An Overview of the “Toon Story” Repertoire

According to Martínez-Orts, the program is designed to cover a broad spectrum of animation techniques, including traditional, digital, and stop-motion styles. The repertoire features award-winning scores from the 1990s “golden age” of Disney, such as Alan Menken’s work on “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Pocahontas,” as well as Hans Zimmer’s Oscar-winning composition for “The Lion King.” The orchestra also incorporates more recent cinematic milestones, including music from DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon.”

Did You Know? The performance features unconventional instrumentation used in classic animation scores, including the flexatone, slide whistles, anvils, and even the sound of plates breaking in a metal bucket.

Performance Style and Audience Interaction

Martínez-Orts describes the show as a “theatricalized” concert rather than a standard orchestral recital. Musicians perform physical actions—such as shouting, barking, or whistling—to match the requirements of the film scores. To engage the audience, the orchestra hosts an interactive segment during the second half of the concert. Attendees can participate in a trivia game by visiting the website concursofso.es, where they are challenged to identify 10 soundtracks in 100 seconds to compete for a trip to Hollywood.

Expert Insight: By framing film music as a “vital soundtrack” that triggers personal memories, the FSO seeks to bridge the gap between classical symphonic traditions and contemporary pop culture. This approach suggests that the emotional resonance of a score—much like a scent—is capable of transporting audiences back to specific moments in their lives, regardless of their familiarity with classical music theory.

Logistics and Attendance Recommendations

While the performance is billed as a family-friendly event, the orchestra advises that it is not specifically a children’s show. The concert has a duration of two and a half hours, and the company does not recommend attendance for children under the age of five. The production team manages the logistical requirements of the tour, which has made Tarragona a regular stop for the ensemble’s performances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the focus of the “Toon Story” tour?
The tour focuses on the history of music in animated cinema, covering various techniques and eras, including traditional, digital, and anime scores.

Is this a concert designed specifically for children?
No. According to Martínez-Orts, it is a two-and-a-half-hour symphonic show, and the orchestra does not recommend it for children under five years old.

How can audience members participate in the concert?
During the second half of the show, the audience can participate in a music trivia game via the website concursofso.es using a unique code provided for the specific concert date.

Which film soundtrack from your childhood do you find most evocative when you hear it today?