Back from the LOTR-symphony, and I really loved it!
What I loved was that the music really told the story within two hours - I think it could stand alone as a piece of programme-music (should check if that's the correct name in English but don't have time), and the Alan Lee/John Howe artwork presentation that went along with it.
The orchestra/choir/soloists were good, I thought.
It took place in the
Cologne Arena, which is a giant events-arena, not a concert hall. This meant that the music was amplified, and I thought that was regrettable - in a real concert hall it would make really good music, I think.
The good thing about this giant place, though, was that they hadn't been able to fill it (as I'd expected), so we didn't even have to sneak to better seats: when we arrived we were told that the high up range where I'd bought seats had been closed and our tickets were exchanged for tickets twice the price of mine.
There were quite a few people in costume, too.
Didn't see a familiar face, though (from the German Tolkien Society or so - but then, it would have been hard to find anyone in the crowd anyway).
A number of people around us (not all, though) were rather chatty, which was a pity - when the music was loud, that was seen as a general invitation to talk.
Astonishingly, though, by the second half I was so involved in the music that I almost didn't notice anymore.
I don't think I regret not having tried for the choir. The best thing of being in it, apart from the general experience, of course, would have been to get the music without people around you talking.
On the other hand, the choir couldn't see the pictures - and they were awesome! Plus, the choir part wasn't particularly interesting much of the time. So, that's ok.
I also think it was nice that I hadn't listened to the music for so long. I remembered things as I heard them, but basically it was all pretty fresh and interesting because I wasn't used to it anymore.
Towards the end I had real trouble following what part of the story the movie was illustrating, but that just helped me concentrate.
When it got to the Grey Havens, I was really moved and had a lump in my throat.
I felt I'd experienced the whole story in only two hours - what I'd sometimes want from the movies, really, where I tend to skip parts these days, because ten hours is just rather long, and I'd like to get through it quicker - this way you can.
So, very worthwhile, I thought. I'm hoping that we'll one day hear it in concert halls as just another programmatic symphony.
)
