‘Music from the Movies’ – The John Wilson Orchestra, Kim Criswell & Matt Ford (vocalists)

I dressed smart(ish) for this show as it oozed Oscar-Award glamour. With music from Alfred Newman’s 20th Century Fox fanfare (1933) to Michel Legrand’s ‘Yentl’ (1983), the programme illustrated just how Hollywood excelled in commissioning that top-class music which gave such lustre to its classic films.

However, Wilson didn’t just slavishly recreate what can easily be heard off a DVD. These outstanding musicians offer a spontaneity and vivacity that no recording can deliver, including some little mishaps (the dropped baton in the Korngold, the Leader’s snapped e-string) which were so elegantly remedied. This was live music of the highest calibre.

Brighton Dome, Concert Hall, 1 December 2016

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