Rebels in the Kulturpalast

Tonight I have seen a very special concert here in the Kulturpalast Dresden: Star Wars „A new hope“ (episode 4 that is) with the film score played live by the Dresdner Philharmonie. Last year I have seen Harry Potter in this setting, but Star Wars was even better. 

When we arrived at the Kulturpalast we were greeted by several stormtroopers and more characters by a local fan club. That made a good mood and increased the excitement of the event to come.

The first piece the orchestra played was the jingle of 20th Century Fox that already gave me goosebumps and was accompanied by a round of applause. When the actual score started with the overture of John William‘s masterpiece it was thrilling!

The music of Star Wars especially the overture is so bombastic, it was a lot of fun listening to. The orchestra was well staffed, with a lot of brass – six horns, three trumpets, four trombones, and a tuba, four or five percussionists, and someone playing the piano and a Harmonium. 

The timing of the orchestra was perfect to the film. In parts you could forget that an orchestra was playing the score live. But hearing the music live made it easier to detect the leitmotiv of some of the characters.

The only drawback we found was that the music of the cantina scene was not played live, as it is obviously not part of the score.

All in all it was an amazing experience with a full standing ovation and another round of the overture as encore conducted with a laser sword! For all who have forgotten the music, here it is.