Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall
Conductor: Jason Lai
Violinist: Alexander Souptel
Clarinetist: Ma Yue
Programme:
Main Title from Star Wars
Theme from Jurassic Park
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Suite for Orchestra
- Hedwig's Theme
- Nimbus 2000
- Harry's Wondrous World
Flying Theme from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
"Hymn to the Fallen" from Saving Private Ryan
Theme from Schindler's List (for solo violin & orchestra)
"Raiders March" from Raiders of the Lost Ark
The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) from Star Wars
"Viktor's Tale" from The Terminal (for solo clarinet & orchestra)
The Shark Theme from Jaws
Superman March from Superman
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Suite for Orchestra
- Fawkes the Phoenix
- Dobby the House Elf
- The Chamber of Secrets
Tango (Por Una Cabeza) (arranged for solo violin & orchestra by John Williams)
"Throne Room" & End Title from Star Wars
One of the few "non-classical" music concerts that I have attended recently. But a concert featuring John Williams' works was simply irresistible. If you were born in the 70s or 80s, it is practically impossible for you not to be familiar with the music from Star Wars, Superman, and Indiana Jones.
The movies covered during this concert spanned across multiple genres - comedy, science-fiction, horror, and war. And this made John Williams even more amazing, with his versatile ability to compose such thematic music. His talent is apparent with the number of nominations he has received - 48 Academy Award nominations. And he has won 5 Academy Awards, 4 Golden Globe Awards, 7 British Academy Film Awards, and 21 Grammy Awards.
To be honest, I don't think the pieces were really difficult. A good composition does not necessarily have to be difficult, so this concert was more of a populist one - easy to perform but yet could generate much excitement and enjoyment. But the orchestra still executed the pieces well, and the solo pieces - Theme from Schindler's List and "Viktor's Tale" - were performed very well. I was quite amused when the clarinetist dressed up as Viktor, in his hat and suit - particularly because before that, I was half-expecting the conductor to dress up as Darth Vader and conduct the first piece after the intermission (The Imperial March) with a lightsabre.
The audience had fun tonight. In fact, there was so much applause and cries for encores that the conductor had to shoo everyone home.
The movies covered during this concert spanned across multiple genres - comedy, science-fiction, horror, and war. And this made John Williams even more amazing, with his versatile ability to compose such thematic music. His talent is apparent with the number of nominations he has received - 48 Academy Award nominations. And he has won 5 Academy Awards, 4 Golden Globe Awards, 7 British Academy Film Awards, and 21 Grammy Awards.
To be honest, I don't think the pieces were really difficult. A good composition does not necessarily have to be difficult, so this concert was more of a populist one - easy to perform but yet could generate much excitement and enjoyment. But the orchestra still executed the pieces well, and the solo pieces - Theme from Schindler's List and "Viktor's Tale" - were performed very well. I was quite amused when the clarinetist dressed up as Viktor, in his hat and suit - particularly because before that, I was half-expecting the conductor to dress up as Darth Vader and conduct the first piece after the intermission (The Imperial March) with a lightsabre.
The audience had fun tonight. In fact, there was so much applause and cries for encores that the conductor had to shoo everyone home.
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