Another spectacular production from the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) left the QPAC Concert Hall ringing to the theme of Star Wars on Saturday night and rewarded with a standing ovation to Darth Vader, Darth Maul and the full orchestra.
On Saturday night the QSO treated a full house to a magnificent musical journey through an eclectic selection of film themes by John Williams. With 51 Oscar nominations and 5 Oscars to date, the latest nomination was for the score to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. John Williams is one of the most award nominated individuals in history, second only to Walt Disney. The 85 year old remains the eminent master of film themes, composing over 100 musical scores to instantly set an emotive flavour. If you hear mention of a shark attack in the news, the ominous Jaws’ Shark Theme instantly comes to mind. Or perhaps on hearing the first mystical chimes of Hedwig’s Theme you’re transported to a world of magic, wizards and witches. John Williams’ has created musical connotations through his musical film themes in popular culture throughout the World.
The QSO presented seventeen of John William’s film themes, with a bonus two to reward an encore at the end. The ever adaptable and affable Conductor and Presenter Guy Noble delighted the audience between each set with a comical introduction to each theme. Each musical piece was also accompanied by a laser light display adding to the emotional mood of individual themes.
The brass overture was the flying start to the night as the theme of Superman swooped into the QPAC, accompanied by red and blue lasers scanning the concert hall in time to the music. The classic majestic overture soared across the audience, influenced by the music of Holst and Elgar.
A melancholic change of pace followed with the lesser known Lowood theme from the 1970 film Jane Eyre. A Steven Spielberg collaboration from the film Lincoln, followed opening with a stirring trumpet solo by Sarah Butler. Another change of pace with the terrifying 1975 Jaws Shark theme had my son cowering in his seat as the notes swelled like the sea bringing waves of terror across the audience until culminating in a blood curdling scream from the entire orchestra!
Next was the gung-ho march of Steven Spielberg’s 1941, and though the music did not save the movie from being Spielberg’s worst flop, the military tattoo theme of William’s is instantly recognisable and considered synonymous to the US military of World War II.
The five-note motif of Close Encounters of the Third Kind with aleatoric melodies and harmonies, and the uplifting theme of ET, created an urge to have an encounter with extraterrestrials and transported the audience out into a Universe filled with other life forms.
The lilting sea shanty of Hook opened the second half, followed by the wonderment of Jurassic Park with emotive solos from the French horn (Malcolm Stewart) and the Harp (Loni Fitzpatrick.)
Sayuri’s Theme from Memoirs of a Geisha featured the Cello and Flute emulating traditional Japanese instruments, and the slow but majestic tempo of the Suite from Harry Potter’s Chamber of Secrets had the audience envisioning the Phoenix rising again from the flames.
The pinnacle of the evening, in a night full of highlights, was the four Suite Star Wars medley conveying the audience back to the stars with music from: The Phantom Menace; Attack of the Clones; Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the original Star Wars Suite.
As a fan who would gladly turn to the Dark Side to be in the presence of Darth Vader, it was a dream come true when after a standing ovation, Darth Vader entered centre stage commanding the Orchestra to play his theme The Imperial March with the force from wave of his arm. After another standing ovation the QSO, Darth Vader and Darth Maul (who was hiding amongst the violins), ended an incredible musical feast with the Cantina Band music from Star Wars.
As a devotee to the music of John Williams, the evening had promised to be great, but the QSO and Guy Noble excelled all expectations and had the audience begging for the Orchestra to cancel all future plans and instead play the other 100 or so movie themes of John Williams to satiate their thirst for more. From Jaws to Jurassic Park was a magnificent magical musical odyssey with bite which must be repeated!
By Dr Gemma Regan
Review: From Jaws to Jurassic Park: The Music of John Williams
Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Guy Noble
Concert Hall, QPAC
Sat 24th Feb, 2pm and 7.30pm