The Royal Albert Hall’s Films in Concert series is the ultimate movie experience when it comes to surround sound.
This weekend, I went to see E.T. screened at the jaw-dropping venue and having a live orchestra playing the John Williams score while the plot unfolded certainly added some extra magic. Truly out of this world!
You can grab a glass of wine and a bucket of popcorn before you settle into your velvet seat and there is even an intermission so you can restock supplies.
But if you missed E.T., don’t worry as the Royal Albert Hall has a bunch of movie offerings for 202o…
As well as the long-awaited return of The Lord of the Rings, 2020 will feature Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Superman, Titanic, The Terminator, The Matrix, and Brassed Off.
The 2020 line-up will feature special guest appearances – The Matrix Live will be conducted by original composer Don Davis, while The Terminator composer Brad Fiedel will participate in a pre-show Q&A, and Brassed Off Live will feature appearances by stars of the film.
Lucy Noble, Artistic Director of the Royal Albert Hall, said: ‘These in-concert experiences are invigorating, inspiring and uplifting. We’re so delighted with the success of the series, particularly in how it introduces new audiences to classical music, and the 2020 line-up is the best yet. As well featuring several of our most-requested titles, it’s incredibly exciting to bring back The Lord of the Rings – the film that started it all in 2009.’
The line-up ranges from the sweeping glamour of John Williams, James Horner and Howard Shore, to Don Davis’ and Brad Fiedel’s synthesizer-led soundscapes, to Trevor Jones’ quintessentially British score for Brassed Off.
Often cited as the greatest achievement in film music, Howard Shore’s work on The Lord of the Rings resulted in over 100 motifs, over 13 hours of recordings, and won three Academy Awards, two Golden Globes and three Grammys.
The season will also feature two films scored by film score legend John Williams – Superman and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi – the latter of which will be performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, who played on the original recording.
Meanwhile, the series will be opened and closed with two more avant-garde soundtracks, in Don Davis’ synthesizer, spoken word and sound-effect work for The Matrix, and Brad Fiedel’s score for James Cameron’s debut, The Terminator, featuring thunderous taiko drums, percussion, electric violin and synthesizers.”
Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster, Titanic, also features, following sold-out shows in 2015 and 2017. At the 2015 premiere of Titanic Live, he said: ‘This experience is beyond anything I’ve seen in the theatre. When hearing the music out front and dominating, you really realise how the music drives the emotion of the movie.’
The Hall’s Films in Concert series began in 2009 with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and has sold over 500,000 tickets to date.
The London Symphony Orchestra appears by kind permission of the Barbican.
To book tickets visit www.royalalberthall.com/tickets
