The Royal Albert Hall is gaining an extraordinary reputation for presenting some of Starburst’s favourite films, but with the luxury of having a live concert orchestra. Previous productions have included Aliens, Harry Potter, Interstellar, Independence Day and our recent voyage brought us to director Steven Spielberg and composer John Williams’ 1975 thriller… Jaws – the first time the film has been performed with a live orchestra, during this performance three pieces of music written by John Williams was reinstated and ultimately excised from the finished product and restored to the movie with the permission of Spielberg and the composer.
Many argue that Jaws was the first modern blockbuster, however, what is undeniable is John Williams Academy Award winning score is not only iconic but still stands the test of time; unnerving fellow audience members every time a dorsal fin appeared and the spine-tingling string section came to life to the exhilarating dynamics of the menacing Jaws theme, where at one point during the evening this reviewer could have thought he was in a 4D version of the film as what felt like a splash of sea water hit the back of his neck during an unexpected forte motif, which was actually a lady sat behind him with an empty glass that had been holding a gin and tonic.
Credit must be given to the BBC Concert Orchestra under the baton of Dirk Brossé. It should go without saying, but it doesn’t matter how many thousands of pounds you might pay for the latest sound system – there is no better way to appreciate a film score than in the magical acoustics of the Royal Albert Hall played by majestic BBC Concert Orchestra.
I hadn’t watched Jaws for quite some time and like many others, the film is the reason I never tread too far out into sea when on holiday. But I had forgotten what a masterpiece it is, whether that be the brave direction and ground-breaking camera work by Spielberg to the perfectly judged humour and relationships between Hooper, Brody, and Quint. It’s a film that haunted by childhood and this production delighted me in my now adult years.
Don’t go into water. Instead head to the Royal Albert Hall box office and book for any of their upcoming films-with-live-orchestra experiences. We promise whatever you book for – you’ll, ‘smile you son of a bitch’.
