When I saw the adverts for Star Wars: A New Hope in concert at the Royal Albert Hall I thought this would be a perfect annual trip for me and my Star Wars buddy.
Previous excursions included Return of the Garrison at the National Space Centre, Celebration Europe at the ExCeL, Star Wars Identities at the Millennium Dome and most recently Secrets of the Empire VR experience at Westfield Shopping Centre.
Unfortunately due to various logistical and financial reasons we just couldn’t make it work.
Then I saw an advert for the CBSO performing Star Wars at the New Theatre, Oxford which is a mere bus ride from me. I had no idea who the CBSO were but with a Star Wars event so close to home it was an opportunity not to be missed.
Within an hour and after a few texts back and forth the tickets were booked for us and surprisingly, our wives. By this time I’d also discovered that CBSO was the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
Fast forward a couple of months and we were having a pre-performance meal opposite the New Theatre when I noticed the couple next to me snapping pictures at something across the road.
To my delight I saw that the Rebel Legion and the UK Garrison were in attendance and causing quite a commotion outside the Theatre. We had Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, two Stormtroopers representing the 501st and Han Solo, Princess Leia, Lando and an X-Wing pilot for the Rebels.
After a few photo opportunities it was time to find our seats.
I had managed to get second row seats and I thought I was very lucky to get them. But as the performance began I looked around and was disappointed to find that the Theatre was less than a quarter full.
The stage had plain black drapes as the backdrop with the conductors podium front and centre and chairs arranged in a semi-circle around it. As the musicians took their seats I started to wonder what I’d spent £40.00 on, especially when I realised that my well chosen seats might not be that great as I couldn’t see past the first two rows of musicians.
The conductor (Michael Seal) took his place to a round of applause and then all went silent.
A voice echoed round the Theatre with a brief description of the events leading up to The Phantom Menace. The orchestra began with the Fox fanfare which in hindsight was a bit odd. Then they went straight into the main theme. From then on I was truly mesmerised. It was like I was in the footage I’d seen of John Williams and the LSO at Abbey Road over 40 years ago. As the first piece ended a thunderous applause erupted which made me think a few hundred more people had arrived. The audience was fantastic!
In between each piece the narrator skimmed over the story up to the next piece. Sometimes it was a few scenes but mostly it was half an episode. It was well written and even though it was brief you could follow the story and sometimes guess which song was coming next. Duel of the Fates was amazing and very well received by the audience. Along with the thunderous applause there was whoops & whistles. At the and of each piece the conductor would ask various sections or individuals of the orchestra to stand in recognition of their excellence during that piece.
By the interval we had got to The Throne Room and it felt like I’d only just sat down. The time had flown by. Vader, Kylo and the rest of the gang were now in the Theatre posing for more pictures and causing chaos with the ice cream vendors with hilarious results.
20 minutes later the musicians returned followed by the conductor and the narrator continued.
The first piece was The Asteroid Field and once again I was transfixed. Watching the musicians was amazing. All the violins, cellos and double bases all in time with each other but at the same time each person had their own flare or quirk. Their passion was obvious and it was reflected in orchestras performance.
After the final piece, which was The Jedi Steps the conductor and the orchestra stood to another rapturous applause. As the conductor left the stage everyone else sat down but a few moments later he returned to the podium. We were then treated to a Grand Finale, The Imperial March!
Well that deserved a standing ovation while the conductor highlighted each section of the orchestra for their magical work.
Overall it was a fantastic evening. I don’t claim to be a classical expert by any stretch of the imagination but I have watched and listened to Star Wars a lot over the past 35 years and in my opinion the performance was perfect!
First Act
Main Title • The Flag Parade • Anakin’s Theme • The Duel of the Fates • Across the Stars • Battle of the Heroes • Here They Come • Princess Leia’s Theme • Throne Room •
Second Act
The Asteroid Field • Yoda’s Theme • Parade of the Ewoks • Luke and Leia • The Forest Battle • March of the Resistance • Rey’s Theme • Scherzo from X-Wings • Jedi Steps • The Imperial March