A certain pattern has emerged in this week’s media releases from Canadian orchestras and ensembles: a remarkable number are announcing family-friendly, multi-media programs. Here’s a west-to-east round-up of what we’ve seen:

November 19 and 20, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (with guest conductor George Daugherty) is presenting 3 performances of Bugs Bunny at the Symphony.

November 13, the Calgary Philharmonic (led by resident conductor Melanie Leonard) teamed up with Storyfair Productions for a performance of Winter Solstice: A Rocky Mountain Fairy Tale – a family program that incorporates storytelling, dramatic visuals and music.

This month and next, the Ensemble contemporain de Montréal (led by their music director, Veronique Lacroix) presents eight performances of André Ristic’s Les Aventures de Madame Merveille, a quasi-operatic event that unites live performance of Ristic’s score by the 7-member ensemble and 4 guest soloists with giant projections of original cartoons by noted graphic artists Michael Cho, Pascal Girard, Scott Hepburn and Cameron Stewart. The tour kicks off with performances in a number of different venues in Montreal, and continues with performances in Lennoxville and Sherbrooke.