Film Music in the Concert Hall

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Yes, there is yet another post about some orchestra (Chicago Symphony) performing film music in the concert hall. So, what's news about this you ask?

First of all, Chicago Symphony Orchestra is in its fifth season of performing these works, which means it's not only popular, but becoming a regular feature of their concert season. This year, as the concert will be on Halloween, the symphony are showing one of the 1930s Universal Studios classics, "The Bride of Frankenstein," with live accompaniment by guest conductor Richard Kaufman and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. So, not only will this be a wonderful concert, but a classic film and the chance to see the film with live music a rare occurance in our modern world.

Secondly, on the Saturday prior to their standard Friday night concert (Oct 31) they will perform additional works aimed at a younger audience, with works like Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain" with selections from the scores of "Spider-Man," "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" and other films. What a great way to introduce children to classical music, by providing music they recognise and yet in a venue that is new (to them). My suggestion to the parents is to bring the kids back to the Friday night performance to augment the sentiment that orchestras are more than just current film music... THEN get season tickets and take them to see any (or all) of their upcoming performances to complete the picture of how wonderful orchestral music can be. (My particular favorite would be the concert in mid-November, "Echoes of Russia" with music from Glinka, Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky.)

For more details on "Friday Night at the Movies" or the Chicago Symphony Orchestra...

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