Orchestra Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Five tones. That’s all it took for John Williams to convey a sense of a wider form of communication that stretches from the Earth to the Cosmos. Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a film about (among many things) communication and the power of the universal language of music in particular. It is fitting, then, that the Royal Albert Hall would make room for Steven Spielberg’s 1977 Sci-Fi classic in its season of live orchestral performances this year. Not only is it a wonderful chance to revisit one of Spielberg’s finest, but it offers a means to greater appreciate just how emotionally complex William’s work is in this tale of making connection with beings not of this world. Seeing a film with a live orchestra is an experience that everyone should embark upon, be it your first time seeing the film for your 100th. It is a uniquely immersive experience, bringing you into the film in a way that no other screening format can quite muster. Music, and particularly the music of John Williams, is often used to heighten emotion and elevate scenes to their peak resonance, and the tangibility of seeing an orchestra play the score as the film progresses brings you even closer to those emotions in a truly profound fashion.The film and the score all build-up to one of the finest finales put to screen with the eventual meeting between our characters and the aliens who have been telegraphing their arrival. The moments of witty government conspiracy and deeply touching and devastating family drama give way to the meeting of human and alien, as the human race communicates to the huge, foreboding and colourful mothership through the medium of music. It is a sequence that never loses its grandeur on repeat viewing, a moment in which the

Adam B. Vary Senior Entertainment Writer In “Maestro,” Bradley Cooper disappears into the role of legendary composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, one of the most consequential American figures in classical music.

Plans to move the English National Opera (ENO) to the North of England have been warmly welcomed in Greater Manchester which will become the 'main home' for the cultural institution. But the news, which was announced on Tuesday (December 5), was met with some strange responses from the rest of the country on social media - including from some angry Londoners.

Jon Burlingame The greatest film score of 2023 isn’t eligible for an Academy Award. That’s because Leonard Bernstein composed it between 1944 and 1977, multiple pieces that collectively form the musical backdrop of “Maestro,” Bradley Cooper’s film about the 20th century American composer-conductor. The classical excerpts functioning as dramatic score include Bernstein’s ballets “Fancy Free” and “Facsimile,” parts of his Broadway scores for “West Side Story” and “Candide,” his opera “A Quiet Place,” music for the film “On the Waterfront,” portions of his second and third symphonies as well as his “Mass” and “Chichester Psalms.” “I think of the score as the co-star of the film,” says the composer’s oldest daughter, Jamie Bernstein.

News that the English National Opera (ENO) will be moving to Greater Manchester has been welcomed locally - but elsewhere in the country, some people aren't happy. Plans to make the city-region its 'main home' by 2029 were announced this morning (December 5).

Ellie Goulding has announced an orchestral show at London’s Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. The multi-platinum singer will take over the Royal Albert Hall with the orchestra on April 11, 2024, to perform classical rearrangements of tracks from her back catalogue, including cuts from her latest album, ‘Higher Than Heaven’, which she released in April.

Simu Liu is no longer taking part in Disney World’s 2023 Candelight Processional.

Feeling festive? With this stellar line-up at The Bridgewater Hall, Christmas 2023 promises to be an absolute cracker.

Jon Burlingame Approaches to film scoring have become increasingly eclectic—from jazz and classical to hip-hop and avant-garde—making it more difficult than ever for Academy voters to narrow the field to 15 for Oscar’s shortlist. Variety examines 16 of the possible choices, in alphabetical order: ‘American Fiction‘ – Laura Karpman Cord Jefferson’s movie—about a Black writer who, as a joke, writes a bad novel that becomes a best seller—has a lead character whose name is Thelonious and whose nickname is Monk.

Prestwick gets into the festive mood next weekend (November 25 and 26) with a two day Prestmas special.

This winter, join Manchester’s symphony orchestra, the Hallé, for a cracker of a Christmas - with concerts to suit all ages at The Bridgewater Hall.

K.J. Yossman “The Hunger Games” star Sam Claflin has boarded George C. Siougas’ short film “The One Note Man” as an executive producer.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Much of the buzz around Bradley Cooper‘s “Maestro” so far has revolved around his shocking physical transformation into famed conductor Leonard Bernstein, but the actor-director-writer’s prep for the role might also blow some people away. Speaking at a recent Los Angeles screening for the film in a conversation moderated by “Hamilton” Tony-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, Cooper revealed that he spent a whopping six years learning how to conduct just over six minutes of music in the style of Bernstein himself so he could record a crucial scene in “Maestro” live on set. The scene in question recreates Bernstein’s famous conducting of the London Symphony Orchestra at the Ely Cathedral in 1976.

The Godfather and E.T. The Extra Terrestrial in this way over the years, both of them at London’s prestigious and historic Royal Albert Hall in the centre of town.

Ethan Shanfeld The Smile has announced a new album “Wall of Eyes,” set for release on Jan. 26, 2024, via XL Recordings.

The Smile have revealed details of their brand-new album, Wall Of Eyes. The album is the second from the trio (Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood plus drummer Tom Skinner) and follows their 2022 debut A Light For Attracting Attention.

Society of the Snow tells the story of the rugby team whose plane crashed in the Andes mountains in 1972, the incident made famous in the book and 1993 movie Alive. But whereas Alive focused on the survivors, who had to resort to eating the dead crash victims to survive, J.A. Bayona’s Venice Film Festival-closing movie focuses on the ones who did not make it.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Sony Pictures will conduct a live orchestra at the Academy Museum featuring the bombastic music from its animated feature (and best picture) contender “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” At a special invitation-only event at the David Geffen Theater, the studio will feature an exhilarating arrangement of electronics, turntables and a live orchestra performing the original score from Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s box office smash by Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning composer Daniel Pemberton. The concert will feature appearances by Oscar-winning producers and screenwriters Phil Lord and Chris Miller; the film’s directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K.

Zara McDermott has thrown herself back into work as she distracts herself from her Strictly Come Dancing axe. The former Love Island star became the fifth celebrity contestant to be eliminated from the BBC One contest last weekend following the epic Halloween special.

Davide Abbatescianni Oscar-winning filmmaker Michel Gondry presented “The Book of Solutions” at Lucca Comics & Games this week, and took the opportunity to explore his ideas about creativity, and to urge aspiring directors to fight against perfectionism and embrace risk. He was accompanied by his editor, Élise Fievet. Gondry explained that the self-help guide from which the film gets its name features a series of guiding principles for creativity, such as kicking off a project without hesitation, learning by doing, and not listening to others.

A live orchestra is set to perform the scores of some of the most played and beloved video games in a live show in Manchester.

bbymutha has signed to True Panther Sounds — the buzzy, independent New York label that’s currently home to Grace Ives, Frost Children, Model/Actriz, Oklou, and Popstar Benny (among others) and boasts King Krule, Abra, Cloud Nothings, Hunx and his Punx, Shlohmo, Ty Segall, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and more as alumni. The signing comes after a decade of self-releases from the Chattanooga MC born Brittnee Moore, who’s built a cult following through the years with her raw delivery, impeccable beat selection, and defiance of industrial and societal norms.

Many Strictly Come Dancing viewers were left asking 'who' before saying it took them 'ages' to recognise one of the show's professional dancers. The confusion came during the latest results show which aired on Sunday night (October 30).

Strictly Come Dancing star Zara McDermott said she 'can't stop crying' as she broke her silence on her exit from the competition. The documentary maker, who made history as the first Love Island star to take part in the show, was voted out of the contest on Sunday night (October 29).

Steven J. Horowitz Senior Music Writer How do you seamlessly blend the connective tissue between hip-hop and classical? Easily, if you’re Metro Boomin. On Thursday night, the Atlanta producer partnered with Red Bull Symphonic to translate his music into widescreen at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, playing master of ceremonies during a precisely 90-minute set that featured a 43-piece ensemble counting strings, brass and a harp to boot.

Lise Pedersen Lyon’s impressive Roman-style auditorium, normally used by the city’s symphonic orchestra, was sold out as U.S. writer and director Wes Anderson took to the stage as guest of honor of the Lumière Film Festival.

Cate Blanchett’s fictional conductor Lydia Tár.Blanchett played the character in director Todd Field’s 2022 film Tár, a psychological drama about a world-renowned Berlin conductor who faces allegations of misconduct.Mallwitz, who was inaugurated as chief conductor of the orchestra last month, has since been widely compared to the character due to her appearance.Speaking to The Guardian, Mallwitz described the comparisons as “ridiculous” but explained that she hasn’t managed to see the film yet.“I know it’s ridiculous,” Mallwitz said. “I really want to see the film and I adore Cate Blanchett, but it’s been such a whirlwind, I’ve had no time.“But the comparisons between me and her – well, it’s just the hair, right? To be honest, people have been saying to me for the past 20 years that I and Blanchett look a little bit alike.

Eight-time Grammy winner Gloria Estefan is writing the music and lyrics for an original stage musical called Five Notes about Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, the singer announced today.

Tamera Mowry-Housley is off to solve an eery murder mystery in Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major.

Danny Elfman‘s score to Batman is to be performed by a live symphony on a 35th anniversary tour of North America and Europe.Across 14 dates ranging from January to June 2024, the DC in Concert series will bring the iconic score to theatres across the States and to gigs in Paris and London.At the shows, the score will be performed in front of a projection of the original Batman, which starred Michael Keaton in the titular role and Jack Nicholson as the Joker.The gigs begin in January in Los Angeles, and run until late April in the US. The tour then wraps up with a gig at Paris’ Le Grand Rex on May 24, and at London’s Barbican two days later.Pre-sale tickets go on sale on September 13 at 10am local time, with a general sale beginning at the same time on September 15.