Violoncello (O Saci)

The Children’s Music Theater piece, “O Saci”, has thus far been performed over 30 times in London, Evanston, Chicago, Vienna, and the Bregenz Opera Festival.

Based on the Brazilian mystical and traditional folklore legend “Saci Pererê,” O Saci is a unique family and children’s theater experience proven to mesmerize young children while entertaining audiences of all ages.

With the storyline embedded in the music score for four-hand piano, flute, and cello, this tale is brought to life on stage by a compact yet impactful ensemble of four musicians and four acting dancers.

O Saci can also be performed as pure Chamber Music, Ballet (music and dance), Pantomime, or Music with story-telling narrative with or without dance or movement.

The 45 - 50 minute production introduces the Saci, a mischievous forest creature, in his native land, Brazil. Pulling pranks is his favorite pastime, and when caught in the act he uses one of his magic powers – turning himself into whirlwind – to blow himself away from his pursuers. But he travels too far, across the great ocean, and lands in a new, strange place.

Rescued from drowning by a water sprite, the equally playful Cai, Saci surveys this strange new land and makes a new friend in Cai although at first they do not really like each other due to their many differences.

Getting to appreciate each other’s attributes and differences, they work together using their magic powers to save a farm house in a country village from a great fire. Now fast friends, Cai introduces Saci to snow and winter play.

Though enjoying his new environment, Saci longs to return to his Brazilian forest, and as such sets out to continue his quest to once again find home. Meaning, he disappears, re-appears, plays a prank or two (after all one can’t change a legend) and travels within his whirlwind to his next adventure!

O Saci has already been to London, England, Chicago USA, Vienna’s Museum Quartier and the Bregenz Festival in Austria… and the adventure continues!