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Let's go to the movies: NMPhil says 'Hooray for Hollywood!' with classic film music
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From the thumping beat of John Williams鈥� 鈥淩aiders of the Lost Ark March鈥� to the staccato screech of 鈥淧sycho,鈥� film scores have wrapped audiences in worlds of magic and menace.
The New Mexico Philharmonic will perform the music to some of Hollywood鈥檚 best on Saturday, March 16, at Popejoy Hall.
鈥淭he music from the movies has made its way into the Great American Songbook,鈥� said conductor Jason Altieri. 鈥淭he visual isn鈥檛 enough; you need the atmosphere.
鈥淢emorable art goes with memorable music,鈥� he continued. 鈥淓ven the movies that don鈥檛 do well, it propels them to another level.鈥�
Across cinema, specific directors regularly use specific composers. Think Steven Spielberg and John Williams; Tim Burton and Danny Elfman; Alfred Hitchcock and Bernard Herrmann.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e just great pairings,鈥� Altieri said.
Williams鈥� 鈥淪uperman March鈥� will open the show. The program spans from music to Errol Flynn鈥檚 swashbuckling 鈥淭he Sea Hawk鈥� (1940) to the theme from 2004鈥檚 鈥淭he Incredibles.鈥�
Austrian American composer Erich Korngold penned the theme to 鈥淭he Sea Hawk.鈥� Today, he is considered one of the forefathers of great film scores. John Williams cited his music as his inspiration for the theme to 鈥淪tar Wars.鈥�
Of course, a Hollywood film concert must include themes from 鈥淗arry Potter,鈥� 鈥淲est Side Story,鈥� 鈥淢ission Impossible鈥� and 鈥淧irates of the Caribbean.鈥�
鈥淚 found a wonderful arrangement from 鈥楬ow to Train Your Dragon,鈥� 鈥� Altieri added.
The orchestra also will play 鈥淎dventures on Earth鈥� from 鈥淓.T.鈥�
鈥淛ohn Williams always said it was one of his favorites,鈥� Altieri said.
Samuel Barber鈥檚 鈥淎dagio for Strings鈥� was used in 鈥淩aging Bull,鈥� 鈥淧latoon鈥� and countless other film and TV projects.
鈥淭he atmosphere it creates is so beautiful and poignant,鈥� Altieri said. 鈥淭he string section of the New Mexico Philharmonic is so good and I wanted to show that off.鈥�
鈥淚 found a strong suite from 鈥楶sycho,鈥� 鈥� Altieri added, 鈥渢alk about creating an atmosphere.鈥�
The conductor is saving 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� for the encore with the 鈥淐antina Band鈥� in the film鈥檚 legendary bar scene.
Altieri teaches conducting at the University of Nevada, Reno. He鈥檚 also the associate conductor of the Reno Philharmonic and music director of the Atlanta Pops Orchestra.
