Review: Patrick Doyle's Dark And Magical Score Comes To Life With Sydney Symphony Orchestra's presentation of HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE IN CONCERT.
By: Jade Kops Aug. 17, 2018
Wednesday 15th August 2018, 7pm, Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
The magic continues with Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) continuation of their collaboration with CineConcerts to present the HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE IN CONCERT. Patrick Doyle's dark score is bought to life by the SSO under the baton of Hamish McKeich whilst Mike Newell's BAFTA Award winning film is screened above the stage.
An audience favourite, these events have become an experience from the moment the audience enters the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall foyer with a giant cauldron positioned near the refreshment counter and wanted posters signposted throughout the area. Visitors celebrate their love of JK Rowling's books and the movies, showing their allegiance to the four houses with scarves or donning attire covered with the Maurauder's map or the signs of the Deathly Hallows along with brandishing wands and the odd owl.
As with the three previous concerts, this is a relaxed symphony experience as McKeich reminds the audience. Whilst most symphony concerts are sedate and require restraint, the audience are encouraged to cheer for their house and their favourite character or respond to the evil villains of the story. This is a wonderful introduction to classical music for young and the young at heart whilst also being a fabulous reminder that big classical orchestrations often form the soundscape of the movies that we love, even if we aren't always cognisant of the detail that goes into the compositions.
As Harry Potter's story and the wizarding world becomes a more dangerous place with the return of Lord Voldemort, Doyle's first score for the franchise, taking over from John Williams who scored the first three movies, is decidedly darker. The sporting events of the Quiddich World Cup and the TriWizard Tournament give scope for joyous fanfare to contrast the ominous foreboding tones. Bold percussive tribal drums sound out over the swell of strings and the lightness of woodwinds as tension is built and secrets are revealed. The movie plays above the orchestra with dialogue and sound effects merging with the live orchestra that delivers a pinpoint precise rendition of the music that colours the work so well.
For those familiar with the movie, focus is often pulled to the orchestra, working out how sounds are created. Smooth strings standing in for Nagini's sinister slither. Delicate harp and flute notes or frenzied tremolo from violas and cellos building tension. Five percussionists plus Timpani give a bold undertone along with the tuba and bassoon.
For newcomers to the Wizarding world, this is a brilliant way to experience the movies. Whilst many potentially experienced the movies in cinemas when they were first released, this concert series gives a new generation the opportunity to see the works of a big screen, which is the best way to appreciate the cinematography.
The CineConcert series of Sydney Symphony Orchestra presenting the Harry Potter series is a must see for any Harry Potter fan and anyone that appreciates music in movies. It was a joy to reenter the magical world with the orchestra and be part of the shared experience of expressing a love of the works and a passion for the story and characters.
Sydney Symphony Orchestra presents HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE IN CONCERT
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