Posted by: Tally Chan on October 10, 2009 at 4:19 am
What do people usually do on a Friday night? I guess the question is better asked: What do I usually do on a Friday night? If asked 5 years ago I would’ve told you: “I have an exp party waiting for me in Valkrum Dunes in Vana D’iel!” If asked last week I would say: “Uh, what hell DID I do?” But if you asked what I did on Oct. 9th, I would say “I went to see Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at Radio City and it was awesome!”
Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.
And with those wise words of Gandalf, my friend Eric and I set off on our very own journey to Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan to experience the live performance of Howard Shore’s complete score. Only 2 nights in NYC Oct. 9th and 10th, the movie will be projected while “over more than 300 musicians will bring the music of Middle Earth to life” by the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra, The Collegiate Chorale, and Brooklyn Youth Chorus, conducted by Ludwig Wicki.
After making it to Radio City we got on line to enter the music hall. Hundreds of people joined us in the theater when the bell rang at half past seven indicating that the show was about to begin. In the comfort of our velvet seats, we sat and eagerly waited for the movie to start, while the orchestra started their tuning. The conductor stepped onstage and the magic began. An uproar of cheers and applause echoesd through the music hall. The screen was lit up and subtitles graced the bottom of the screen as we all quietly watched the movie.
After experiencing this I don’t think I can ever watch another film without a whole orchestra performing live. The whole experience was indeed mesmerizing. To be wholly enveloped in the true meaning of what a great score would do for a film is absolutely wondrous.
The only thing I found a little unnerving were the random applause from fans of the movie, for characters’ cameos while the orchestra was playing an astounding piece in accompaniment of said scene. Other than that everything else was sheer awesomeness. The musicians deserved the standing ovation that they received tonight.
And as a special surprise, Billy Boyd and Elijah Wood were there! They came onstage with the conductor and took a bow.
If you are in NYC, I hope you find the opportunity to go see it on the 10th. If not, you can always wait until next year and the following year to see the next two. It’s an experience you’ll never want to miss out on. Thanks Eric for inviting me.
Photos courtesy of Eric Cockhill.
website: Battle for Middle Earth with the Fellowship at Radio City in NYC!
