It’s not unusual to long for an earlier time in life; to try to recapture the youth we lost. For many of us, what is missing is the act of “play,” which so defines childhood development. For artists, musicians and composers, the creative act can be a way of sustaining that element within themselves while offering new forms of connection to the world. Our program opens with the evocative imagery of Paul Wiancko’s “Toy Bricks,” followed by two sets of “children’s pieces” by two very different composers. Robert Schumann was inspired to write his “Kinderstücke” after his wife, the equally famous (and arguably more impressive) Clara, pointed out how childish he could be. This set of character pieces are defined by Schumann’s focus on the romanticism of childhood, featuring the well-known sentimental work, “Träumerei.” Georges Bizet took a different approach, texturally stripping down his music in “Jeux d’Enfants” (Children’s Games), to evoke the simplicity of childhood. Come play with us! It’s what your inner child would want.