When Michael Emerson agreed to narrate "The Story of Babar" for the Honolulu Symphony, he didn't think of it as a performance that would attract younger audiences.

But the Emmy-award winning actor's participation alone is enough to draw in some younger members of the "Lost" generation, who know Emerson as Benjamin Linus, one of the ABC show's most enigmatic and violent characters (and arguably the least likely to narrate a children's story).

It's Emerson, not the fictional Linus, of course, who will be narrating the classical piece French composer Francis Poulenc wrote to entertain a young relative, but "Lost" fans will see who they want.

In an e-mail interview, Emerson said real-life encounters with viewers can be hard because of the vivid character he portrays, but he added, "I think people are also pleased to confuse or conflate the actor and the role. In my case, because the tone of the part is so sinister, I notice people keep their distance from me and are very polite. (Which is sweet and a little funny.)

"I think reading 'Babar' will take some of the edge off people's perception of me. Or else put an edge on people's perception of 'Babar.' Ha."

Emerson's role is just one layer in a concert intended to have multigenerational appeal, although the actor himself said, "I will confess that I didn't think of the evening in terms of 'young audiences.' Not only is Poulenc's score a sophisticated affair, but I would suggest that (Jean) de Brunhoff's text is as well."

That will please traditional concert-goers, while clever additions, such as a prelude teens in the audience might recognize from the vampire movie "Twilight" (Claude DeBussy's "Clair de Lune"), might further the orchestra's efforts to create a new generation of supporters.

For the youngest audience members, if "The Story of Babar" may seem a bit too intense at times, it's never long before a dark moment is balanced by a whimsical one. Poor Babar loses his mother within the first few minutes of the piece, but children won't have time to dwell on this before the story lightens up with the "slightly surreal cosmopolitan tone" Emerson enjoys in de Brunhoff's books.

For example, when the newly orphaned elephant suddenly finds himself in a town instead of a forest, what's on his mind? Clothes, according to the narrative: "Luckily he was seen by a very rich old lady who understood little elephants and knew at once that he was longing for a smart suit."

"The Story of Babar" is the right kind of show to introduce classical music to young children, said the symphony's executive director, Majken Mechling, who starts her job today, presiding over an orchestra whose executive structure has been revamped recently.

Mechling expects children will be captivated by the swift and surprising story line, rather than held captive in the lobby by parents mortified that their children are too bored to behave in the music hall.

With more than 1,000 children expected to attend the show, thanks to a sponsor, as well as special $10 tickets for students and children up to age 18, it's clear the orchestra is reaching out to younger generation.

And although Emerson might not have expected "young audiences" to come to the concert, he doesn't discourage it: "I think it's a fine idea to bring children into the concert hall and see if they enjoy what they hear."