Review of Norfolk Symphony Orchestra’s From Vertigo to ET concert: Rousing and dramatic performances of music from well-known movies including Jurassic Park, ET and Star Wars
Reviewer Andy Tyler shares his thoughts on Norfolk Symphony Orchestra’s recent From Vertigo to ET concert...
It was a real pleasure to attend the recent Norfolk Symphony Orchestra concert consisting of music from the movies, past and present.
The concert, held at Lynn’s Corn Exchange, was given by an enlarged orchestra lead by Alice Ruffle from the violin, and conducted by distinguished musician, Steve Bingham.
The hall was full, and the enthusiastic audience, of all ages, enjoyed a programme entitled From Vertigo to ET, which included film music from over the years, composed by Erick Korngold, Bernard Herrmann, Debbie Wiseman, Michael Nyman, John Williams, Jerome Moross, Hans Zimmer, Lisa Gerrard, and Daft Punk.
The rousing opening to the concert was from the famous film by Stanley Kubrick, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and the music used was the beginning of Richard Strauss’s Tone Poem: Also Sprach Zarathustra.
The film music included was from both well known and not so well known movies. I count 2001, Vertigo, Jurassic Park, The Big Country, Gladiator, ET and Star Wars as the well known scores, (all performed with gusto!), and King’s Row, Wilde, A Zed and Two Noughts and Tron:Legacy as the not so well known, but the conductor’s welcome, light-hearted, and informative commentary, gave us useful background to what we heard.
All sections of the orchestra gave rousing and dramatic performances of the pieces, but also played sensitively when appropriate. We also enjoyed some amusing theatrics from Maestro Bingham during the Star Wars section of the proceedings!
The NSO will hold their next concert on Sunday, March 24, 3.30pm at The Corn Exchange, it will be entitled: Symphonic Visions, (but not of the cinematic type!), and will include music by Rossini, Canteloube, and Mahler.
Thanks to all involved, including the main season sponsor, Adrian Flux, for enabling us to enjoy uplifting music making.
Andy Tyler
