Het Beest van Monsieur Racine (The Beast of Monsieur Racine) (1990/1991)
with financial support of the Fonds voor de Scheppende Toonkunst
first performance: October 4-1992, Kasteel Groeneveld, Baarn
Monique Copper – piano and recitation
The piano player is asked to combine playing the piano with telling a story. Only a few are able to do so. The Dutch piano Monique Copper is one of them. This composition has been written especially for her.
The story, written in 1971 with the title The Beast of Monsieur Racine, is by the French author and artist Tomi Ungerer. It is meant for children. During performances Tomi Ungerer’s drawings may be shown on slides.
There are also translations in German, English and French. Further information can be obtained from Monique Copper.
See also Monique Coppers website
synopsis:
One morning Monsieur Racine sees, that the only pear hanging from his pear tree, has vanished. He discovers the thief, a big, strange kind of animal that is completely unknown. Curiosity overrules his anger and Monsieur Racine and the beast become good friends. He makes a study of it and after some time he decides to show it to the Academy of Science in Paris. It causes a sensation. Especially when during the presentation to the academic public the beast, which hadn’t produced a sound so far, suddenly tears itself open and two giggling children appear…
Having a sense of humour, Monsieur Racine returns the children to their parents and from now on he shares his pears with his young friends.