The Harry Potter franchise has stood the test of time. For years since the movies ended, I and many other fans have hoped for a chance to experience the thrill that comes when that special tune plays as the WB logo appears at the beginning of every Harry Potter movie just one more time.
Well, Symphony New Brunswick is giving us the next best thing. They are taking us back to Hogwarts this weekend with the help of music.
Harry Potter Flies In, “is a magical journey through the music of the eight Harry Potter movies,” said guest conductor of the orchestra and fellow fan of the series Greg Burton. “Most of the music is composed by the great John Williams, but later movies introduced other composers such as Patrick Doyle, Nicholas Hooper, and Alexandre Desplat, so it’s an interesting experience to discover the different musical styles of each composer.”
The multi-faceted show will also feature artwork by young New Brunswickers, interpretive dance, actors, and music describing and portraying different characters in the book.
They chose Harry Potter for a number of reasons, the first of which being that John Williams’s music is immensely popular and is associated with many of the cinematic greats, including ET, Jaws, and Star Wars.
“His music is able to capture the characters and the essence of the story,” said Burton. “I think most orchestra musicians enjoy playing the music of John Williams. Also, the Harry Potter stories were so phenomenally popular and still retain their relevance. There are so many unique characters that we know beyond Harry, Hermione and Ron. Dobby is a favourite of mine, and of course Voldemort is the essence of evil. A good story ultimately has both darkness and brightness. This story becomes more and more intense and dark as it moves along, and that is reflected in the music.”
Burton says they are very excited to be performing live again as the pandemic has been a major challenge for the industry. The Harry Potter Flies In show will be in accordance with COVID-19 protocols. The audience will be masked and socially distanced. The conductor and the orchestra will also be distanced, with those who can wear masks doing so. Burton explains that although this creates major challenges in terms of performing together, listening to each other, and bringing the performance off as a team, the SNB musicians are up to it.
The first show will be in Saint John on the 23rd and the second at The Playhouse on the 24th. All ticket sales are by phone or in person only. More information is available on The Playhouse’s website.
P.S. Costumed attendees get a prize!