If you grew up in the last 60 years, you probably know what you’re hearing. Sergei Prokofiev wrote both the music and the narration – in Russian – back in 1936.

(music)

If you grew up speaking English, you know it as “Peter and the Wolf.” But in this weekend’s bilingual performance, it will also be known as “Pedrito y el Lobo,” and it will sound something like this.

“No sooner had Peter gone, than a big grey wolf came out of the forest….” / “Pues no habia hecho mas que cerrar la puerta, cuando salio del bosque, un gran lobo gris.”

(music: wolf theme)

Downes is, of course, a noted pianist with several CDs to her credit, and has played at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center and the like. But she’s also a mother of young children, and Prokofiev’s music has become part of her family life.

”This is actually one of the first piece of music that my daughter Charlotte learned, because she had a Sesame Street video of ‘Peter and the Wolf,’ which I recommend to all parents of young children. So she’s familiar with the score and she’s looking forward to the concert.”

For many of the kids participating in the performance as narrators, dancers or scenery designers, this will be their first trip to the Mondavi Center. “Peter and the Wolf,” or “Pedrito y el Lobo,” will be performed on Sunday at 3 p.m. and again at 5 p.m. in the Mondavi’s Studio Theatre.

(music)