Live classical music for 4 year-olds?

[choucroutegarnie]

While on holiday in France we were lucky to be invited to sit in on the rehearsal of a classical music concert (Schubert lieder - just a singer and a piano) and our 3 1/2 year old was transfixed. He's been asking to go again ever since.

Do you know of anywhere in London where one can listen to live music of that kind with children in tow? I doubt the likes of the Wigmore Hall (average age 70!) would even let us in.

I don't know about London, but there should be somewhere, the Sage in Gateshead does events for young children

In Bham they have children specific concerts, sometimes billed 'family' concerts, there are usually several around christmas time... we went to one this morning.
Youngest child there was about 3 weeks!
I would look at the listings for the concert halls near you- you may be surprised.

Actually the Wigmore Hall has a long-running regular thing called Chamber Tots - next one is on wednesday. Here.

Also how about this at King's Place? the Little Prince (50 mins) with trad norwegian fiddle music.

Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank do family concerts with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Next one is in March I think.

I love the family concerts at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London, they are running family concerts every month, it's suitable for children from 4yrs old. My son who is now 6 has been going there regularly for the past couple of years and absolutely loves them. Children get to sit with the musicians, to conduct the orchestra, they get to listen to real masterpieces, it's wonderfully interactive and educational, and the venue is in a great location for me, much better than the Barbican! Check the orchestra's website, www.lmaorchestra.com, they have all their future dates.

Both the barbican and the wigmore do children's concerts. When it gets to summer time go to Kenwood with a picnic and you'll get some of the lollipops stuff too which is great. Try that restaurant on the strand that does Italian foofood + opera.