NEW HOPE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW ON-LINE

This is an interesting idea — an interactive CD designed to introduce children to the music of Mozart, in particular The Magic Flute.

It consists of animation of a basic 'boy goes on quest' storyline. Magic objects have to be collected before the castle can be reached. Along the way children can get involved in games requiring them to recognise the sounds of musical instruments or pieces of tune. The main snag is the lack of instructions. Even adults found it tricky to get started. Once it gets going the animation is good and the music, of course, excellent. Children of junior school age will enjoy the games and absorb the main tunes as they are presented in short takes.

One criticism is that the games are too long. A few more games of shorter duration would have had the same teaching effect and absorbed children more. As part of The Interactive Classics Series this is a useful and enjoyable CD for home and schools.