The Los Angeles Philharmonic brought magical melodies to the Hollywood Bowl with “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.”
While "Prisoner of Azkaban" had a double screening, on July 7 and 8, "Chamber of Secrets" kicked off the "Harry Potter" events on Thursday, July 6.
The shows featured full-length film screenings, joined by the LA Phil's live performances of John Williams' scores, conducted by Justin Freer. The venue hosted children, parents and friends, some dressed in their wizarding house robes or fanwear. It was the right place to get that person in your life who hasn't seen a "Harry Potter" film or read the books to jump in and fall under a spell. The Hollywood Bowl was the perfect venue to sound the Philharmonic's suspenseful, exciting, and of course, magical sounds of the beloved films. Synched perfectly to the film cues, Freer managed to bring the films to life through their music, which made the orchestra powerful in bringing a fun experience for all.
While audiences could watch the film on different screens, based on seat location, it was often a toss up between keeping the eyes on the orchestra delivering the dear stories to a live audience, who performed swiftly to the films' scenes, or to watch the movie itself. There were times which made one forget the orchestra was there, and that the event was strictly for an outdoor film, but only because everything was well-timed. Every part of "Chamber of Secrets" felt nostalgic as the music vibrated throught the air and to the soul. The sounds of the horn section stood out during "Prisoner of Azkaban," along with the CSU Fullerton University Singers, which accompanied the orchestra during the three concerts. The performances were stunning, making fans and newbies alike want more of "Harry Potter" and John Williams' scores.
The LA Phil will host performances at the Hollywood Bowl throughout the summer season. To see the schedule, click here.
Reach Contributor Tanya Mardirossian here.
Annenberg Media