Music from the Movies – University of Reading Spring Concert – University of Reading
26 February 2008Lucky audiences will really know the score, when the University of Reading Chorus and Symphony Orchestra bring them some movie magic at the Spring Concert on Sunday 9 March.
Taking place in the University's magnificent Great Hall on the London Road Campus, they will be joined by the University's Gospel Choir, who begin the concert in style by performing Joyful Joyful and Gospel Train, stirring pieces memorably featured in the film Sister Act 2.
The Symphony Orchestra follow, with a rendition of the fantastic John Williams' music from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first of the smash-hit series of films.
Leonard Bernstein's dark and powerful concert suite from On the Waterfront, Elia Kazan's classic gritty 1954 film, brings the curtain down on the first half. Starring Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint it won eight Oscars. Bernstein's music was nominated, but lost out to Dimitri Tiomkin. Its brooding magnificence and sheer raw energy make Bernstein's only film score a truly powerful piece of music.
The Chorus will then join the Symphony Orchestra for Prokofiev's epic cantata Alexander Nevsky. Drawn from his music for Sergei Eisenstein's 1938 film, Prokofiev's concert reworking is a 45 minute sweep through oppression, disaster, tragedy and final triumph.
"Audiences are in for a real treat," said Director of Music Stuart Dunlop. "Rehearsals have been going wonderfully and we've all been humming the infectious and inspiring music for days afterwards. The Great Hall is a fitting venue for what promises to be a fabulous evening's entertainment."
Conductor is the University's Director of Music, Stuart Dunlop and Mezzo-Soprano is Sam Price.
The concert starts at 4:30pm in the Great Hall on the University's London Road campus. Tickets are £10 or £6 for concessions (includes pre-concert drinks and nibbles at 3 pm) and can be booked by contacting:
Alex Richardson, a.t.richardson@rdg.ac.uk, 0118 378 5256 or Brenda Morris, b.l.morris@reading.ac.uk, 0118 378 8006
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Notes for Editors:
More about Music at Reading:
Throughout the term, Music@Reading arranges an exciting array of musical events, providing great opportunities for students, staff and others from outside the University to perform and enjoy. Events include concerts at the Great Hall, London Road campus, and regular Lunchtime Concerts on the Whiteknights campus. Making music at Reading is for everyone. Your degree subject or area of work in the University or the community makes no difference – if you want to be involved in music making, come along and do it.
For media enquiries only, please contact James Barr, the University's Press Assistant on: 0118 378 7115 or by email j.w.barr@reading.ac.uk