Groups of musicians with the Colorado Symphony — giraffes, orangutans and a pregnant greater one-horned rhino — at the Denver Zoo as part of a harmonious partnership forged by a shared sense of community.
Giraffes strutted and wagged their tails, and an orangutan family seemed curiously interested and the rhino, named Tensing, quickly approached the musicians flicking her ears and facing the origin of the music, seemingly seeking to maximize the symphonic sound.
A string quartet from the played Mozart Divertimento No. 3 in G major in front of the giraffe habitat. Harmonious sounds of two violins, one viola and a cello immediately caught the attention of the entire herd.
“We didn’t know what to expect. So, we weren’t sure if they would be nervous, excited, or bouncy, which is a sign of excitement,” said giraffe keeper Amanda Faliano in a news release. “Dobby showed a lot of cool behaviors. Sometimes he would kick, and sometimes he was just watching on high alert, both of which are signs of excitement and interest.”
Colorado Symphony violinist Larisa Fesmire said she never imagined her “classical career” would land her at the zoo. She did appreciate the attentive audience. “I’m glad they seemed to like the music more than my dogs do at home when I’m practicing!”
Tensing, an 11-year-old rhino expecting to birth a calf in the spring, and the Zoo’s Sumatran orangutan family — Berani, 26, Nias, 31, Hesty, 9, and 1-year-old Cerah — also seemed to enjoy the soothing sounds.Zoo officials, in the news release, declared the experiment a success, proving that “music is, indeed, a universal language.”
“We love finding ways to work with fellow Science and Cultural Facilities District organizations, especially when there’s an opportunity to do something unique and unexpected for our animals, guests, staff and the entire community,” said Jake Kubié, director of communications at the zoo. “That was certainly the case with this collaboration–and I think itap something everyone is really going to love!”
, along with interviews of musicians and zoo staff, is posted online.
“We’re so fortunate to have a robust group of local arts, nonprofit and cultural organizations that combine to make Denver a vibrant and enriching city,” said Parker Owens, chief marketing officer for the Colorado Symphony. “We believe it’s imperative to foster collaboration between these organizations, and relish the opportunity to put our musicians in environments and situations that are outside the norm of performances in the concert hall. The opportunity to play music for these animals was a memory maker for our musicians; and we hope our fans, too, won’t soon forget.”
The zoo and symphony will team up again on March 15 at Boettcher Concert Hall for Carnival of the Animals. Among French composer Camille Saint-Saëns’ most popular pieces, each movement of classical piece depicts a different animal, some of which will make appearances on stage during the performance through efforts of the zoo.
