BWW Preview: HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE IN CONCERT with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
By: Taylor Long Jun. 20, 2017
Experience the majesty of a live orchestra playing one of the most beloved film scores of all time. Presented by the Sony Centre and Attila Glatz Concert Productions on June 27, 28 and 29, 2017 - HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE IN CONCERT reinvents the way you experience J.K. Rowling's universe. The first of eight films to be presented in this series, Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone™ will feature the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Women's Chorus from the Amadeus Choir and the Elmer Iseler Singers. The evening will be conducted by Justin Freer.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Andrea Warren, Vice-President of Marketing and Project Development for Attila Glatz Concert Productions about the exhilarating process of bringing John Williams' score to life. Warren explained that her company has joined together with the Sony Centre on a cinematic concert series, currently in their third full year of partnership. "The Sony Centre is such a stellar venue for this," exclaims Warren, "it really feels like a giant movie theatre." With 3200 seats, the Sony Centre is Canada's largest soft-seat theatre.
Attila Glatz Concert Productions has produced E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Amadeus, The Godfather and Gladiator as cinematic concerts - and they've been outrageously popular. After the overwhelming success of the recent productions, a third performance was announced for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone™. "We really wanted to make this one special. We didn't have to hire a choir, but we did," explains Warren. "There's an interesting quote from John Williams where he mentions that the process of recording the music for this film was so important. He had to really pay attention to the cuts, to make it magical - the difference between the second take and the fourth take, is the difference between notes and magic. This is music's role in creating the magic of Harry Potter."
At the cinematic concerts, the soundtrack is lifted out of the film (leaving the dialogue and sound effects) and is replaced by a full orchestra. Warren shared the incredibly interesting process involved in synching up a live orchestra with a recorded film. "A symphony's conductor is always important, but in the case of these movies with live orchestra, the conductor is critical. The timing of the orchestra has to be incredibly precise in order to be in sync with the film. The conductor has the full score on a music stand in front of him, and just beyond that is a small TV monitor playing the movie with bands of colour that move across the screen and correspond to coloured flags in his score. This allows him to perfectly pace the orchestra to the drama unfolding on the big screen."
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone™ is the first film in the highest grossing film franchise of all time. Released in 2001, the film was directed by Christopher Columbus and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures with music by John Williams. Based on the hugely successful debut novel by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) receives a letter from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry advising him that he will be attending class in September. Joined by his new friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), Harry learns that there's a dark side to magic - one that is directly related to the lightning-bolt scar on his forehead.
You won't want to miss this incredible opportunity to experience Harry Potter like you've never seen it before - "relive the magic of the film on a high-definition screen while hearing the orchestra perform John Williams' unforgettable score." Tickets are selling fast, so you'll want to book your seat now.
HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE IN CONCERT is presented by the Sony Centre and Attila Glatz Concert Productions
Performances are scheduled for June 27, 28 and 29, 2017 at 7:30pm at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front St E, Toronto ON
Visit http://www.sonycentre.ca/calendar-event-details/?id=285 for more information or call the box office at 1-855-872-SONY (7669) | Sony Centre Box Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 12 PM - 5 PM
Upcoming films in the Cinematic Concert Series include:
HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS IN CONCERT, Featuring the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Conducted by Justin Freer | October 12, 13 and 14, 2017 at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
JURASSIC PARK IN CONCERT, Featuring the Motion Picture Symphony Orchestra Friday, December 29, 2017 at 7:30pm
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