Saint-Saëns' 'Danse Macabre' Inspires a Theme Park Ride in The Netherlands

By Robert Niles: The music of Saint-Saëns has inspired a new theme park ride in The Netherlands. Just in time for Halloween, Efteling today has opened its new haunted house ride, Danse Macabre. Inspired by Camille Saint-Saëns' 1874 symphonic tone poem, the "Danse Macabre" ride tells the story of a lost conductor and his orchestra, and the descendants who have sought to find them. An orchestra and chorus including 75 musicians recorded the soundtrack for the ride, performing composer René Merkelbach's custom orchestration of Saint-Saëns' "Danse Macabre." The ride is set in a faux 14th-century medieval abbey, surrounded by the "Shudder Forest," which is dotted with graves in honor of musicians who disappeared in 1876, according to the park's story. The family of the orchestra's conductor, Joseph Charlatan, has traveled for generations to the cities where the orchestra played, looking for clues to the disappearance. Now, an enchanted barrel organ named Esmeralda has led them to this spot. Is this the orchestra's final resting place? The backstory sets up a unique ride experience. Visitors enter the ruins of the abbey, within which they will find a chapel surrounding this first-of-its-kind ride system, called a "Dynamic Motion Stage" from European ride manufacturer Intamin. The Intamin Dynamic Motion Stage seats up to 108 riders, with three pews of six riders on each of six turntables. Those turntables sit atop a single, large turntable that rises and falls, horizontally or diagonally. More than 60 speakers surround riders with sound, while the lighting system supports multiple special effects. From this first-look on-ride video, it appears that, while "Danse Macabre" is a spinning ride, the speed and direction of the motion helps it feel more like you're dancing to spooky music rather than about to meet your maker. (The music starts at :45 after a brief description of the ride.)

Opened in 1952, Efteling features a variety of attractions, with many themed to classical tales that also have inspired orchestral works. A "Pirates of the Caribbean"-style boat ride called Fata Morgana retells the story of "One Thousand and One Nights." There's a hybrid roller coaster and water ride called "The Flying Dutchman." The park's original attraction, Fairytale Forest, now includes installations inspired by 30 different fairy tales, many accompanied by musical soundtracks. Efteling is located in Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands - about 75 minutes south of Amsterdam. It's one of the great theme parks in the world - and a wonderful destination for fans who appreciate story and music as much as thrills and rides. You might also like:

• Ravinia Celebrates Leonard Bernstein with New Immersive Theater Show
• Halloween Playlist: Favorite 'spooky' classical music
• Discussion: Attempting the Danse Macabre

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