By Sarah Re
At Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, the Utah Symphony is calling all Star Wars fans, young and old, fancy and casual, geeks and lovers of nostalgia to experienceStar Wars: A New Hope in Concert. This is no ordinary evening at the movies, or at symphony for that matter. Utah Symphony has created a unique experience that makes attending an orchestral concert accessible to a wide audience. Young children watch unblinkingly alongside cheering adults. An attendee in jeans and a t-shirt watches, laughs,and gasps next to an equally-enthused couple who are decked out in formal wear. All audiences ages 5 and older are welcome to this live concert and screening, and the energy of the packed house is electric.
For those unfamiliar with the epic space opera, Star Wars is written begins the middle saga of triple trilogy that follows three generations through an ongoing war between good and evil. This chapter, entitled A New Hope, was written and directed by George Lucas and released in 1977 a. It follows the journey of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) as he teams up with two droids (Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker), an old hermit who turns out to be a legendary Jedi Knight (Sir Alec Guiness), and a pilot of questionable loyalties (Harrison Ford) and his furry co-pilot (Peter Mayhew) as they attempt to rescue a princess (Carrie Fisher) and destroy an Imperial space station.
The incredibly talented orchestra, conducted by Conner Gray Covington, seamlessly scores the entire screening, bringing John Williams‘Oscar-winning score to life. It’s easy to forget that there is a live concert happening at times, but during the most epic and climactic scenes, the sheer drama of the Symphony takes the audience’s breath away. Tensions rise and emotions swell with the strings as the audience feels their hearts pounding in time with the percussion section. It is an experience unlike any other. The only downside is that the orchestra does not play the iconic music during the cantina scene. However, it really emphasizes just how powerful the moments where the orchestra plays are.
While Saturday’s performance is nearly sold out, this event is family-friendly and would make a fantastic activity for the whole family on Monday evening. (Disclosure, per Utah Symphony policy no children under the age of 5 years or babes in arms will be admitted.) I applaud Utah Symphony for boldly creating an exciting, one-of-a-kind experience that combines the joy of a classic film and the beauty of a live orchestra for new audiences in their Films in Concert series.
Utah Symphony Presents Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert, Music by John Williams.
Abravanel Hall, 123 W S Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
May 9, 11, 13 2019 7:00 PM
Tickets: $31-$93
Contact: 801-533-6683
www.usuo.org
Utah Symphony Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/utahsymphony/ Star
Wars: A New Hope in Concert Facebook
Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/249434599244820/
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