Event info

Thursday 1 October » 19:30
Film music: Morricone and John Williams – Iceland Symphony Orchestra

A musical extravaganza featuring works by two of the 20th century’s most important composers of film music

Iceland Symphony Orchestra

PROGRAMME
Film music by Ennio Morricone, Maurice Jarre, and John Williams, including selections from The Untouchables, The Mission, Cinema Paradiso, Lawrence of Arabia, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Superman, and E.T.

CONDUCTOR
Richard Kaufman

There are few concert experiences that can match a live orchestral performance of film music. This concert showcases works by two giants of 20th-century film music, Ennio Morricone and John Williams.

The late Ennio Morricone was Italy’s most famous cinematic composer. Starting in 1961, he wrote music for over 400 films and television shows, winning three Grammy Awards and three Golden Globe awards for his efforts. The first half of this programme of film music focuses on a selection of Morricone’s best, including The Untouchables, Cinema Paradiso, and Once Upon a Time in the West.

John Williams is a living legend, holder of 25 Grammy Awards and five Oscars. Only Walt Disney received more Oscar nominations than Williams has. Williams’ music influenced the genre for decades, with scores such as those represented on the second half of this programme: Superman, Star Wars, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. A must-see event that no film enthusiast should miss!

Conductor Richard Kaufman has worked in Hollywood for decades, conducting music for films and television shows, and has appeared with many of the United States’ leading orchestras. He has appeared with stars such as John Denver, The Carpenters, and Peter, Paul and Mary, and for over a dozen years he has conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s exceedingly popular CSO at the Movies concert series. Kaufman is also the person film stars engage to train them when their roles require that they play musical instruments. Among the actors who have benefited from his tutelage are Tom Hanks and Jack Nicholson.

Further information on the concert can be found on the Iceland Symphony Orchestra website.