The ‘explosion’ of soundtrack concerts: the phenomenon filling auditoriums and theaters

Orchestral-packed ‘music’ sessions, that fetish word where film immersion and evocation come together in one ‘experience’. And in the community sharing adventures, rituals, and sometimes even costumes and makeup.

Venues like Palau, Liceu or Auditori have been blaming this concert reclamation for the soundtrack for a while: they dominate there. Ennio Morricone, John Williams and Hans Zimmer golden trio it’s aThe trend “gained ground, as in countries like the United States or the United Kingdom”, One such programmer explains Javier Martí, president of the Excelentia Foundation. La misión, Cinema Paradiso (both with music by Morricone) or Schindler’s (Williams) list can be listed as “perfect examples of great movies combined with great music”.

on a giant screen

“Parties” can be accompanied by projection of movie fragments or entire tape, and the biggest bet there is, ‘Lord of the Rings in concert’: three sessions at Palau Sant Jordi on 14, 15 and 16 April 2023 (and three more at the Wizink Center in Madrid), each dedicated to one part of the trilogy. The successive parts of the film, which will be projected on a giant screen every night, will simultaneously perform music composed by Howard Shore, accompanied by the Vallès Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by three choirs, two for adults and one for children.

More than 200 musicians are on stage. “It’s a complex note with its own language and a remarkable editing challenge, but very exciting,” admits Martín Pérez, director of Concert Studio. The organizer says around 40,000 tickets are on sale, with subscription options for the three films, the preferred method “half the public”.

Fellowship of the Ring

Play with a trump card: the international community of ‘Lord of the Rings’ fans “with around 80,000 fans in Barcelona alone” and others from other countries, Pérez predicts, who will be coming to attend the event. “We see a lot of movement in the networks of people dressed, wearing rings and necklaces, and attending a mass ceremony.” Not far from football is skiing, where “people continue to gather in the stadium in their t-shirts and scarves and can even watch the match on TV”.

So, in the face of the movie theater crisis, is music regaining its collective immersion? “People are getting better screens in their homes, but it’s an experience you can totally immerse yourself in,” Martín Pérez, who sees potential in other classic films like ‘The Father’ or ‘Star Wars’, cites, but doubts. it’s hard for them to have the power to carry it”.

agenda drop

But the concert schedule in Barcelona is full of these live music offerings and soon the music rendezvous. Morricone and Nino Rota (with Simfònica del Vallès, 3 December, Palau), Williams and Zimmer (Hollywood Symphony Orchestra, 15 January, Liceu) or ‘Zimmer i el millor cinema d’acció’ (Royal Film Concert Orchestra, 7 February Palau) ). And many others. With or without projection, relying on the evocative power of music. At these concerts, “regardless of whether the public is watching the film in the cinema or on an ‘online’ platform, it is possible to restore the ritual of collective experience and memory,” says Natallia Kafionava, director of organizer NK Prodarte.

members young and Equal Original Soundtrack Orchestra, was founded a year ago at Vic and consists mostly of music students aged 16 to 26. This orchestra emerged “to give opportunities to young musicians” because “people think they are inexperienced, but they are the fittest, they play eight hours a day”, explains its co-director Belén Clemente.

Although they love to seize the opportunity to sneak into classical music pieces, soundtracks form the bulk of their repertoire. And dive into little-known “notes” like “How to Train Your Dragon” by John Powell. They try to keep prices low to attract a younger audience (“we never exceeded 15 euros”). They affirm that the soundtrack “makes the public move” and are there to capitalize on the trend. “Going to the movies has always been a very social event”, Belén Clemente meditates. These kinds of concerts that you go to with your family or friends now offer unique experiences.”