Jaws, Star Wars and more as Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra play cinema's greatest hits | Review
Conductor Pete Harrison introduces the penultimate piece of the night – the flying theme from ET – by saying everyone who's seen it will remember that first time.
And as Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra begin playing I am transported – it's a Proustian rush – I got lucky, the Spielberg classic was the first film I ever saw in the cinema. I recall being taken by my dad, and for a moment I may have had something in my eye…
It's the penultimate number of a marvellous evening in Guildhall Square. Following the success of last year's debut outdoor concerts, The Guildhall Trust has brought BSO back for more.
The evening's theme is the film scores of John Williams and Hans Zimmer – two titans of cinematic composing.
The bar is set high by opener – The Imperial March from Star Wars by Williams. The menace is palpable, if somewhat punctured by Harrison's jovial greetings to the crowd at its conclusion.
Being up close to the orchestra, you can feel the power of their playing and there is absolute joy witnessing them in full flight. The crescendos of Interstellar are as frenetic as any rock band.
Some of this music has become part of our cultural DNA, and as such Jurassic Park and Jaws (both Williams) are crowd-pleasers, the themes instantly recognisable, and Gladiator (Zimmer) brings the first half to a close with some brilliant, building bombast.
There are a few curveballs in there too – The Duel from Tin Tin by Williams is a feisty rush, while Zimmer's Tennessee from Pearl Harbour is a beautiful piece, better on its own than I remember the film ever being.
The depth of the music at the orchestra's disposal is highlighted by what they don't play – no Rain Man, Superman, Raiders of The Lost Ark or Close Encounters among many others.
Of course classical purists would blanche – pyrotechnics? Confetti cannons?! But as the comfortably full square proves, there is a significant audience for this kind of show.
It certainly made me want to go back and watch several of the movies.
And maybe, just maybe it will encourage some to give the BSO – our regional orchestra – another look when they make one of their regular visits to the Guildhall. They deserve our support.
They return this evening – Saturday, July 18 – with Smash Hits: The 80s when they'll give some of the decade's biggest hits the symphonic treatment with a quartet of West End vocalists. Tickets at: portsmouthguildhall.org.uk.