NZSO to play great music from the movies in February

Some of the most popular and loved music ever written for films will be performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra on tour in February.

Summer Pops – Music from the Movies features unforgettable music from more than a dozen hit movies and includes several works by the legendary John Williams, one of the most successful film composers in history.

The NZSO will perform extracts from Williams’ iconic music from the first three Star Wars films, along with his spellbinding compositions for Steven Spielberg’s hits Jurassic Park, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Schindler’s List.

Vangelis’ Chariots of Fire, Alan Silvestri’s Back to the Future and Bill Conti’s Rocky are other acclaimed movie themes audiences will enjoy.

NZSO Associate Conductor Hamish McKeich is excited that the Orchestra is bringing such a diverse selection of film music to Wellington, Palmerston North, Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland.

“Several of the works we will perform are landmark compositions,” says McKeich. “The NZSO loves performing film music, whether in concert or recording for films. We also know audiences will have rarely heard these familiar pieces played live. They’re going to love it.”

Summer Pops – Music from the Movies will appeal to the whole family and also include Casablanca by Max Steiner, Spider-Man by Danny Elfman and Johann Strauss Jr’s The Blue Danube used in 2001: A Space Odyssey.

In 2018 McKeich will also conduct other film and television music with the NZSO. It includes Star Wars: A New Hope for the New Zealand Festival in March.

NZSO: Summer Pops – Music from the Movies

HAMISH MCKEICH Conductor

CONTI Musical Highlights from Rocky

JOHN WILLIAMS Theme from Jurassic Park

VANGELIS, ARR. NIC RAINE Chariots of Fire

MAX STEINER Suite from Casablanca

J. STRAUSS, JR. An der Schonen Blauen Donau, Op. 314 (The Blue Danube)

JOHN WILLIAMS Adventures on Earth from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

ALAN SILVESTRI Suite from Back to the Future

JOHN WILLIAMS Theme from Schindler's List

DANNY ELFMAN/JOHN WASSO Music from Spider-Man

JOHN WILLIAMS Music from the Star Wars Saga

WELLINGTON | Michael Fowler Centre| Friday 9 February| 6.30pm

PALMERSTON NORTH | Regent on Broadway | Saturday 10 February| 7.30pm

TAURANGA | Baycourt Theatre | Wednesday 14 February| 7.30pm

HAMILTON | Claudelands Arena | Friday 16 February| 7.30pm

AUCKLAND | Town Hall | Saturday 17 February| 6.30pm

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