We went to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, In Concert, this afternoon, presented by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. This is one of those shows where they play the whole film with the live orchestra performing the score completely in sync to the movie.
I’d heard of these shows before — people usually send me lots of links when a Harry Potter one rolls to town — but honestly I had always brushed them off. I think I didn’t really understand what they were all about and quietly filed them as ‘not my thing’ unless someone else wanted to go.
But Holy Cow was this performance amazing. The Star Wars score is iconic and powerful as is, but performed live with the movie gave it a whole new level of awe. You could see how the score carried the movie at points, making up for same dated action sequences with the timeless music. And I know movie theaters have pretty good surround sound but watching a movie to a live orchestra in a concert hall is on a new level.
We all walked out pretty blown away, having gone in with so-so expectations. I get it now. I won’t brush off those Harry Potter ones anymore. It looks like this is becoming more of a trend — a Singing in the Rain and Home Alone rendition were both coming to Toronto.
Do yourself a favor and keep an eye out as well — this is great way to invite symphony into your life through a relatable medium.
With Love,
Natalie