Nothing quite beats an evening being sat infront of one of the greatest orchestras in the country- Yes, we’re talking about the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Not only did we get to listen to the BSO, which is a gift within itself, we also got to listen to them belt out soundtracks from the Star Wars universe for 2 whole hours, and it was absolutely glorious. I could not have asked for a better evening.
The show was fantastic, the crowd were electric and diverse, ranging from fans who grew up with the original trilogy, to young fans who have only just started exploring the many wonders of Star Wars. And John William’s soundtrack is indeed a wonder. Taking us on a chronological journey, the prequels threw us right into the action with unforgettable tracks such as Duel of the Fates, Battle of the Heroes, and even the beautiful and sweeping track Across the Stars, which tells the story of Anakin and Padme’s complicated, forbidden, yet blossoming love. Chills. As a prequel fan, I grew up listening to these tracks. When I was young I would often recreate certain battles with my brother with those flick out lightsaber toys, whilst the soundtrack was blaring out. I don’t think you can top hearing Duel of the Fates live. It really is something else entirely.
Filling in the gap between the prequels and original trilogy, the BSO treated us with some epic and spine-tingling tracks from both Solo: A Star Wars Story and Rogue One. I am so used to hearing the music from the individual trilogies, hearing the music from the spin-off films really highlighted how the music has evolved. The brilliant Michael Giacchino composed the music for Rogue One, and it’s remarkable how he was able to capture that Star Wars essence in such a short amount of time. The same can be said for Solo. While the track we heard was Williams’ own composition, John Powell really understood Han Solo as a character and delivered an absolutely cracking score that I don’t think gets enough praise.
We were then plunged into the tyrannical reign of the Empire. Palpatine, with his unlimited power and with the help of his servant Darth Vader, has taken control of the galaxy. However, hope gradually rises as Luke Skywalker confronts his destiny and becomes a Jedi, like his father before him. Journeying through the original trilogy, the BSO gave us classic themes and motifs that have redefined our favourite characters, from Princess Leia, to the Imperial March. Star Wars started with this trilogy. Even though I’ve heard many of these tracks countless times before, there is no better feeling than experiencing it with the full might of the orchestra. It took me right back to my very first time watching A New Hope, and you could feel the same happen to everybody else in the venue. Nostalgia surged through the room.
To close the show, we ventured far into the future. Almost 40 years after the destruction of the second Death Star. Things are very different now. New evil forces have taken over, families have been torn apart, and the Jedi have drifted into the realm of myths and legends. Yet… Hope still remains, fractured but true. In the wastelands of Jakku, a young girl called Rey is suddenly thrown into a very familiar battle against good and evil. Williams’ theme for Rey is utterly charming. There’s an innocence to it and the BSO captured it beautifully. There are many tracks from the sequel trilogy that I’ve been dying to listen to live and I walked out completely satisfied. All I’ll say is that the encore is ridiculously good, the smile on my face was immense.
Now, the BSO’s Star Wars extravaganza is still on tour, so if you want to escape to a galaxy far, far away, then we definitely recommend checking out this amazing show. You’ll get to experience music from every single Star Wars film with a magnificent orchestra who’ll transport you from the sands of Tatooine to the burning lakes of Mustafar, and then on to the remote island of Ahch-To, and even to the grey hallways of the Death Star.
Here’s where the BSO will be heading next:
23rd March- Exeter University Great Hall, Exeter.
25th March- Lighthouse, Poole.
A little while ago, I had the absolute pleasure of talking to conductor Pete Harrison about his upcoming shows, and we discussed all things Star Wars, orchestras, classical music, and even the importance of concerts. If you’re interested in learning more about the history behind John Williams’ scores, or even what it’s like conducting an entire orchestra, then you’ll hopefully find this interview incredibly illuminating- I certainly did. It was an absolute delight, and you can watch the full interview below:
Don’t forget, you can check out more news from a galaxy far, far away right here.
