Interesting — over the past year I’ve been to quite a few classical and orchestral concerts. I’ve always loved that sort of thing, though opera itself isn’t really my cup of tea. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it before, but it’s one of those things I never much cared for… until this last year.
I even went to Turandot — you know, the opera with Nessun Dorma in it. I’ll have a proper review of that up in the next couple of days. We’ve been going out a fair bit lately to these calmer affairs: no screaming, no roaring crowds, no sick or spilled cider on the floor with your boots stuck to it.
So we tried something completely different — and something I’d absolutely go to again. It was at Glasgow’s City Halls, performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. A full live orchestra played Bernard Herrmann’s score to Psycho note-for-note, right there on stage while the film ran above them – Conducted by the wonderful Ben Palmer.
You know the famous shower scene — it’s one of Hitchcock’s better films, though I’ve always thought The Birds was superior. Still excellent either way. The strange thing about being there is that once you’re caught up in the film, you completely forget that a whole live band is making every single sound you hear.
It’s only when you glance at the photos afterwards, or read the programme, that it really hits you. Our seats weren’t the best — first floor, or second floor depending what you call it — and yet I barely noticed the orchestra sitting barely twenty yards in front of me. Genuinely remarkable.
They’ve done these film-and-orchestra nights before, and I suspect there’ll be more next year as well. The orchestra was conducted by a truly brilliant conductor who is not only an expert at his craft, but someone who seemed to be having a wonderful time doing it.
Recommended.
CB
