Adventures of the hobbit Frodo Baggins in Middle-earth can be re-enacted at home with a sofa and a blanket, yet the shared ritual of cinema opens new paths. Watch out for the wave of legendary soundtrack concerts that rise on our billboards.
Orchestral sessions fuse music with film immersion into a single immersive experience. In communities that share adventures, rituals, and sometimes costumes and makeup, the atmosphere grows even more vivid.
Venues like Palau, Liceu, or Auditori have long shaped this concert revival for soundtracks. They remain central players. The golden trio of Ennio Morricone, John Williams, and Hans Zimmer anchors the trend, which has gained ground in the United States and the United Kingdom. Programmers like Javier Martí, president of the Excelentia Foundation, highlight examples such as Cinema Paradiso and Schindler’s List to showcase how powerful music can elevate great films.
on a giant screen
Events can feature film fragments or complete reels, and the crown jewel remains the Lord of the Rings in concert. Three sessions at Palau Sant Jordi on 14, 15, and 16 April 2023, followed by three more at the Wizink Center in Madrid, dedicate each evening to a different part of the trilogy. The films unfold on a giant screen while Howard Shore’s score comes alive, performed by the Vallès Symphony Orchestra with three choirs—two adult choirs and one youth choir.
More than 200 musicians take the stage. The show is described as a complex performance with its own musical language and a demanding editing process, yet it remains deeply exciting. Organizers report around 40,000 tickets sold, with subscription options for all three films and a favored mode that seats about half the audience together for the experience.
Fellowship of the Ring
There is a global community of Lord of the Rings fans, with tens of thousands attending in Barcelona and beyond. Fans dress in costume and jewelry, often gathering for a mass celebration. Authorities compare the atmosphere to big sports events where fans wear team colors and jerseys while watching the game, all joining a shared ritual.
In the face of cinema attendance challenges, music may be reclaiming communal immersion. Home screens grow sharper, but this is one experience that invites total immersion. Classical titles like The Father or Star Wars are recognized as potential candidates, yet questions remain about their ability to sustain the same impact.
agenda drop
The Barcelona concert calendar is alive with live music experiences. Morricone and Nino Rota with the Vallès Symphony receive a December performance at Palau, while Williams and Zimmer are featured with the Hollywood Symphony Orchestra in January at Liceu, and a concert focusing on Zimmer and action cinema is planned with the Royal Film Concert Orchestra in February at Palau. Many other events rely on the power of music either with or without film projection. Organizers emphasize that the ritual of collective experience and memory can be restored whether the audience watches in a cinema or on a streaming platform.
New groups such as Equal Original Soundtrack Orchestra, formed recently in Vic, bring together many music students aged 16 to 26. The ensemble aims to offer opportunities for younger musicians and often emphasizes their hard work and daily practice. They enjoy exploring film scores alongside familiar classics, and they even shine a light on lesser-known pieces like How to Train Your Dragon by John Powell. To attract a younger audience, ticket prices stay affordable, never exceeding a modest 15 euros. They believe the soundtrack moves the audience and that these concerts provide unique, family-friendly experiences that bring people together.