At 40 years old, the first film of the Star Wars phenomenon, later re-titled Episode IV Star Wars: A New Hope, has aged like a fine wine or a French gauze-wrapped cheese. It seems better each time you sample it: mellowed with simple, but pioneering special effects, yet rich in character. Now for the first time, was the opportunity to have the full five star immersive experience with the fabulous Queensland Symphony Orchestra playing the soundtrack live as an accompaniment to the film on the big screen.
I was only five when Star Wars: A New Hope was released in England in September 1977 (October in Australia.) It was the first film I saw at the cinema, making a permanent impression and branding me as a life-long devoted Star Wars fan. Since that momentous occasion I have seen the movie at least 30 times and can recite it word for word, and even have excerpts of the movie as ringtones on my phone. I bought every box set and when the updated version with the new special effects was released in 1998, I was keen to see and critique the digitised version. I’ve had Star Wars parties, met David Proust, C3PO and R2D2 and relished the exhibits of the original costumes and sets. We are talking about a serious devotion to Star Wars.
However, until now we have not had the opportunity of a fully immersive experience. Watching Star Wars on a large screen with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra playing the soundtrack live below the screen eclipsed all previous Star Wars experiences! It was better than seeing it at an IMAX cinema and much better than pumping out surround sound in your living room. The strong brass fanfares combined with eight Cellos amongst a large orchestra accompanied by the deep bass drum resonated the soundtrack within the core of your body, enabling you to feel the music rather than just hearing it. It was as if John Williams was there in person conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. The score was recorded in only 12 days and released as a double LP and has been listed as the number one best film score by the American Film Institute, not to mention winning an Academy Award® for Best Original Score.
John Williams was asked to compose the soundtrack by George Lucas after being recommended by Steven Spielberg for his famous score for Jaws. The music of Star Wars is now almost a cliché, and is synonymous with science fiction with Darth Vader’s eponymous Imperial March, striking terror into all who fear the Dark side. Williams composed a bold and brassy soundtrack with echoes of Holst’s Planets Suite and the use of distinctive leitmotifs. He was also inspired by the film King’s Row (1942) scored by Erich Wolfgang Kornhold.
For those who have not seen the film. It is a story of a young whiney teenager, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who is launched into a quest to save the galaxy from the terrors of the Dark Side after they developed the ultimate super-weapon, the Death Star, which can destroy planets in seconds yet also travel through space faster than light speed using hyperdrive. Luke teams up with Darth Vader’s old Jedi mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) along with the sassy droids (Kenny Baker as R2D2, and Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, to rescue Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), the leader of the Rebellion and successfully destroy the Death Star, but not Darth Vader who lives on as an embodiment of the Dark side of the Force.
The QSO excel in live symphonic concert experiences, having recently performed the soundtrack for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkhaban, which was sensational. The progressive conductor Benjamin Northey, Chief Conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra promised the audience at the beginning of the concert that “It would be one of the best days of your life!” With such a grand promise, I was afraid that the QSO may falter, but fortunately he was on the money with the QSO providing an incredible and memorable symphonic performance. The devoted Star Wars and QSO fans had photo opportunities in the Brisbane Convention Centre foyer for photographs with Darth Vader, Storm Troopers and even Kylo Renn. There was much whooping and cheering from the audience throughout the film, encouraged by the conductor and the QSO, resulting in a stenorous standing ovation after the end credits finished. The Queensland Symphony Orchestra is truly strong in the Force, presenting the ultimate immersive Star Wars experience
Although you have missed QSO’s performance of Episode IV Star Wars: A New Hope, do not despair, as the next part of this epic journey Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back presented by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra is on Saturday 1 December, 2018 with tickets on sale now, but be quick!
Conductor Benjamin Northey
Sat 7 July 2018 2pm and 7.30pm
Brisbane Convention Centre
Queensland Symphony Orchestra
By Dr Gemma Regan