Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
You lucky mutt.
Hi there,
Just got back from a truly fantastic day at the Royal Festival Hall in London, the day climaxing with Howard Shore conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra with full chorus.
I arrived at the Festival Hall a bit early, so decided to have a ride on the London Eye, a huge 150 meter high big wheel with panaramic views over the Thames and city.
Entering the Festival hall 40 minutes later, the place was buzzing, the crowd made up of a cross section and of all ages from 5 years old through to couples in their 70's. The day was made up of four performances on stage, starting at 3 pm. First up was a celtic style septet, and very good they were, playing old gaelic music for about 40 mins. After another 15 minute interval, we returned to our seats to watch an 8 piece play music over the top of a 1984 animated cartoon called A Soldiers Tale, which was narrated by Max Von Sydow. Timing was important and they got it spot on.
Another short break and on our return this time the stage had been completely cleared. On came some Egyptian Muslims in long white robes with their unusual signing and followed by male dancers with cymbells on their fingers. I had to force myself not to laugh, as it looked very funny with these men in their 50's prancing and spinning around the stage. But, after 5 minutes they were joined by another dancer who took center stage, then decided to spin around on the spot for 25 minutes!!! I tried it afterwards and felt sick in seconds. How the guy didn't puke up from giddiness is beyond me. While he was spinning he had this "petticoat" on that span out, and he untied it and span it above his head. Very strange but clever also. At the end of the act they got enthusiastically applauded.
We were now running 15 minutes behind schedule. The stage was quicky set up and the audience filed back in to pack the place out. The orchestra came on stage to applause, and began warming up their instruments. The choir then came through, 50 women on one side above the orchestra, and 50 men the other side. In front of the men sat the boy choir.
Five minutes later Howard Shore walked on stage to rapturous applause. This is what we had come to see! The lady next me (a regular on T.O.R.N from Liverpool, and with her daughter, were very excited. Howard didn't speak to the audience at all, but just waved.
Everything was ready. You could have heard a pin drop. Here we go!
First off came The Prophecy, which is my favourite track on the CD. No, it's not in the film, but it has all the feeling of Tolkien's world and I love it. This time it played slightly different, as halfway though the ring theme was brought in, and the musice from the intro of the film was used. There was no clapping or cheering between tracks. Just absolute silence as the music from the Fellowship Of The Ring segued from one track to the next. It was just perfect. I closed my eyes and listened for a minute and it sounded exactly like the cd I play in my car. But this was no suprise, as it was the same orchestra, same singers, same conductor and same boy signing all the high notes. His voice is yet to break!
Of course there was no Enya, and those tracks were missing, but really it didn't matter. Sixty minutes later and it was all over. We knew it was coming as the last track came to a shattering climax. The crowd all stood together in a roar of appreciation, and by the look on Shores face he was completely taken aback. The standing ovation lasted 10 minutes and he had to come back three times. (But again no microphone to speak to us with anyway)
Obviously there was not going to be an encore and at last the orchetra left the stage, to leave us all heading out into the cold dark London night and our long trips home. There were a few empty seats about, but the place was sold out. These seats were booked last July and people either forgot or couldn't make it. Shame the tickets were not returned beacuse some fans might have missed out. So I say to you, if the opportunity ever comes about to see Howard Shore perform LOTR in your country, don't walk, but run to the box office and get those tickets as soon as they go onsale.
Cheers
Steve Shovlar
Nice work, Steve, and thanks for thinking of us and sending a report in.
"Moriarty" out.
