BY ALLEYNE MOSS
Alleyne was named runner-up in the inaugural CutCommon Young Critics’ Mentorship. We would like to welcome Alleyne in her first review published in CutCommon!
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ in Concert
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Sydney Opera House, 10 July
The Sydney Opera House Concert Hall was almost unrecognisable. The air carried the scent of popcorn; and a large, black screen obscured the distinctive pipe organ. A young audience, decked out in a sea of Hogwarts house colours, buzzed with anticipation for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s live performance of Nicholas Hooper’s iconic score of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Even rival Slytherins and Gryffindors could put aside their differences for this night of musical magic, the film projected on screen and accompanied by live performance of this soundtrack.
The most powerful wizard of the evening was conductor Nicholas Buc, who – with a wave of his wand – seemed to have us all under his spell. From the moment Buc stepped on stage, his energy and enthusiasm were palpable, qualities he proffered to the audience as he welcomed us muggles to what he said he considers the saddest and most melancholic of all Hooper’s Harry Potter scores. Atypical to conventional concert etiquette, the audience was encouraged to express emotional responses and appreciation of the film, resulting in laughter, and gasps of fear. Even cheer at the first complete iteration of the main theme was heard when the golden trio of Harry, Hermione, and Ron were reunited on screen.
Music contributes significantly to the emotion and atmosphere in film, although at times the most cleverly composed scores are so integral to the on-screen action, and crafted so subtly, that audiences don’t fully appreciate their impact. Viewing a film with a live soundtrack provided a completely different experience: the SSO conjuring the music in each scene, even in mundane moments, became magical. Emotional intensity was amplified, and humorous moments enriched with whimsical brass lines and musical answers to on-screen jokes. Live sound tracking shone a new light on musical material I’d previously overlooked; the sweet strings and hints of a highland tune filling me with unexpected grief at the death of Aragog, the giant spider.
The powerful force behind this enchanting experience was undoubtably the orchestra, who heroically matched on-screen action with artistry and precision. From soaring strings toying with our emotions, to percussionists wielding white corrugaphones (whirly tubes) above their heads – and the use of extended technique bordering on sound effects, resulting in unnervingly spooking horcrux hunting – there were certainly some magical moments for the musicians, too. Even the instruments got in on the action; one bassoon proudly sported a Gryffindor scarf throughout the performance.
By the sixth concert in the Harry Potter series, I was expecting mastery of the art of mixing the pre-recorded dialogue and sound effects with the live soundtrack, however the balance this evening left something to be desired. The woodwinds were at times unnaturally loud, and while their amplification was necessary in tutti sections, it resulted in a loss of subtlety and overpowered the quiet, reflective moments of the film. In some scenes, dialogue and Foley drowned out the orchestra. While the use of amplification and live mixing is crucial to In-Concert screenings, and supplemented by subtitles, third person mixing does, unfortunately, take the delicate process of creating balance out of the hands of the well-practised artists themselves.
One aspect of the mix that was perfect were the choral lines. The choir charmed us as it filled the hall with Latin incantations and haunting sustained notes, never failing to leave me with chills.
The concert was an exciting and emotional journey led by Buc, who didn’t need any powerful Amortentia love potion to leave his audience completely bewitched.
Images supplied. HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are ©️ & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights ©️ JKR. (s19)
