This is a unique collaborative project that demonstrates the power of music to bring people together. It is a model of cooperation also relevant to wildlife preservation, a complex issue that transcends national boundaries.

The pairing of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf with a new composition, Wolf Tracks, by Jean-Pascal Beintus, is the result of the commitment of artists, technical experts, world leaders and arts patrons from many countries. The project was conceived by the Russian National Orchestra and developed under the artistic direction of Kent Nagano.

Wolf Tracks is a tale that converts the image of the wolf from a fearsome creature to one that represents the imperative to cherish and protect natural resources. This contemporary perspective encompasses the importance of recognizing the point of view of others, a value that lies at the core of understanding different people and cultures.

Recordings are being made in several languages. For the English version, Sophia Loren (Peter and the Wolf), Bill Clinton (Wolf Tracks) and Mikhail Gorbachev (introduction and epilogue) contributed their time, and each designated a charity to receive their royalties: Loren to the Magic of Music, an arts program for youth; Clinton to the International AIDS Trust; and Gorbachev to Green Cross International, an environmental charity. The recording received a 2004 GRAMMY, the first ever awarded to a former U.S. President, or to a Russian orchestra.

Antonio Banderas narrated the Spanish version, due for release in 2006, and famed Russian actors Oleg Tabakov and Sergei Bezrukov teamed up for the recently-released Russian version. Plans are underway for renditions in Italian, French and Mandarin.

The art on the CD's cover and booklet is the work of some very special children who live in Moscow orphanages and facilities for the disabled. The drawings were selected from the hundreds shown at the "How I See Music" Exhibition, an annual event sponsored by the RNO at the Moscow Conservatory. These young artists live under difficult, challenging circumstances and their art, like music, is testament to the magic of creative self-expression.