Some Classical Music Treats

What shall we listen to today, kids? Sharon, Lois and Bram? Fred Penner? How about Mozart or Stravinsky?

Parents who would like to introduce their young children to something other than the Top 40 or the usual children’s albums will find strong support from two notable new recordings: “Mozart’s Magic Fantasy” and “The Firebird.”

“Mozart’s Magic Fantasy,” from Classical Kids Productions, is a lively romp through “The Magic Flute,” a fairy tale with dragons, sorcerers, the Queen of the Night, the birdman Papageno and star-crossed princes and princesses.

Liberties have been taken with the original--a young girl named Sarah is drawn into the heroic good-against-evil struggle to give listeners a peer to identify with. The same device is used to excellent effect in the first two Classical Kids’ releases, “Beethoven Lives Upstairs” and “Mr. Bach Comes to Call,” and it works well here too.

“Mozart’s Magic Fantasy.” Classical Kids, A&M; Records of Canada. CD: $14.98. Audiocassette: $9.98. Information: (800) 668-0242.

“The Firebird,” a new release on the Delos label, is straight storytelling, with a captivating, exotic twist. Over the complete ballet score by Igor Stravinsky, performed by Gerard Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony, is narration by Natalia Makarova, one of the 20th Century’s great ballerinas.

Makarova’s lyrical telling of the Russian fairy tale--adapted here by Carol Rosenberger--is a dance of words, bringing to life young Prince Ivan, Princess Vasilisa, the magical Firebird and evil Kaschei.

“The Firebird.” Delos International Inc. CD and audiocassette: Prices vary. Information: (213) 962-2626.