The final concert of the evening, and we are still with the Symphony Orchestra under the leadership of guest conductor Michael Seal. Only this time we were deviating slightly from the usual classical fayre of a symphony orchestra, to the world of lighter music composed for films and TV, which, as it was so rightly said, could well be, and often is, the bread and butter of many musicians these days. Studio recordings are no longer things to be scoffed at or things seldom done, but are becoming more and more the norm with TV series often employing a concert orchestra to record the music for the production live.
Time then to let the hair down a bit as these popular and well known themes filled the room. This concert had a presenter too, in the form of Tommy Pearson, who took us through the music that we were going to hear adding a couple of nice little anecdotes along the way.
We heard 9 items this evening, starting with what else other than Lalo Schifrin's theme for 'Mission Impossible'. The orchestra proved him wrong however and the whole evening was not just a mission possible, but a mission excelled in every way! This was followed by the hauntingly beautiful music that accompanied 'The Fellowship Of The Ring' by Howard Shore. In total, Shore wrote over 10 hours of music for this trilogy. That is an incredible achievement in itself, and it is all wonderful.
Following that with a change of pace and mood as we turn to 'La La Land' and music which reflects a bygone era. We heard the concert suite in which the solo trumpet part - a piece of music which requires the trumpet to play as loud and as high as is absolutely possible - was played by guest trumpeter Mike Lovett.
After that we needed some peace and calm, and this was found in the beautiful music that John Williams wrote for Schindler's List. Harrowing images and knowledge of what the film was depicting aside, the music is truly beautiful, and also shows the versatility and talent of composer John Williams too, as the music was a complete departure from his more usual sci-fi and heroic style music. The main theme required a solo violinist, and this was played this evening by the orchestra's leader Adria Aranda Balibrea. Such a hauntingly beautiful melody, played superbly.
Ramin Djawandi's theme music to Game Of Thrones was next and a more contrasting piece you couldn't find. Percussion-heavy with Celtic-influenced rhythms and melodies, it is loud, raucous, and most definitely a 'show-off' piece. But it stirs the soul nevertheless and is a hugely popular concert piece. [it also happens to be a personal favourite, but don't tell anyone lest I go down in people's estimation of me!].
Again a change of pace for the lovely short piece that accompanies the main titles to 'Out Of Africa' by John Barry, before we heard what I assume must be something of a world premiere performance of music for a film which has not yet been released. The film is Thunderbirds Are Go, a modern CGI updating and reworking of the children's puppets-on-strings show that was both loved and derided in equal measure.The composer is Ben Foster, and we were fortunate enough to have him in attendance this evening. He spoke a little about the writing process and also that he had been working with the orchestra over the last week during the rehearsal period, and listening to the lively and melodic piece it was all that a modern super- hero style film should offer... drama, passion, tenderness and of course heroics!
Back to John Williams for the penultimate piece as we heard music from Star Wars. - no film music concert would be complete without it! - and finally, we finished very much on a high with Monty Norman's (arranged David Arnold) James Bond theme for Casino Royale.
This was a truly amazing concert which had 'wow' written all over it. And what amazed me perhaps more was the fact that this orchestra is comprised entirely of students whose maximum age is 18. They are training in all disciplines, in all genres, and they can turn their hands to Vivaldi and Beethoven, but they also can play modern film and TV scores with the best of them too!
Thoroughly enjoyable, and I am extremely glad I was able to come along. Bravissimi!
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 17/10/18
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