#SHOWBIZ: MPO brings epic 'Godfather' score live

New Straits Times

01-06-2025

For the first time, director Francis Ford Coppola's cinematic masterpiece will be presented as "The Godfather Live" by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) on June 14.
The special two-hour concert at the prestigious Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) in Kuala Lumpur will start at 8pm.
A winner of three Academy Awards and countless other accolades, 'The Godfather' remains one of cinema's greatest films. Its enduring appeal is largely due to Nino Rota's iconic score, which, combined with traditional Italian folk music, is instantly recognisable to moviegoers worldwide.
Under the baton of Gerard Salonga, the MPO will perform the iconic "mafia" movie's complete score live, synchronised with the film shown in high definition on a large screen.
'Godfather Live' conductor and producer Justin Freer, in a recent statement, said: "It is with great excitement that we are able to bring this masterful score and film to Dewan Filharmonik Petronas.
"That we are able to preserve and present some of the most cherished music in the history of our craft is both exhilarating and humbling."
He added: "There is little film music as instantly recognisable as Nino Rota's opening music played on trumpet, and only a handful of films as masterfully made as 'The Godfather'.
"The marriage of these two masterpieces on stage live will be a visual and aural treat like nothing else."
'THE GREATEST FILM EVER MADE'
'The Godfather', released by Paramount Pictures in 1972, tells the story of the Corleones and their rivalry with other New York crime families between 1945 and 1955.
The head of the crime family, Vito (played by Marlon Brando), hands over the reins of power to his youngest son Michael (Al Pacino), who is reluctant to "get dirty with work".
Michael, however, learns the ropes fast and soon becomes a capable heir to his father.
The movie, which also starred James Caan, John Cazale, Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton, won three Academy Awards – including Best Picture and Best Actor (Brando) – and solidified Coppola's reputation as being among the "New Hollywood" directors who revolutionised the industry from the late 1960s onwards.
In 2008, 'Empire' magazine proclaimed 'The Godfather' the greatest film ever made, with 'Entertainment Weekly' and 'Metacritic' a also awarding it the esteemed distinction.
It placed second in Sight & Sound's 2002 list and Time Out's 2003 readers' poll, and currently holds the number two spot on IMDb's all-time list.
Composer Rota gained international recognition in the 1950s and 1960s for his collaborations with renowned Italian directors Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti.
His music for 'The Godfather', including its immortal 'Love Theme From The Godfather', was ranked No. 5 in the American Film Institute's list of the greatest scores ever written.
"We are proud to embrace the evolution of live experience. We hope that this concert honours the many talented musicians that bring the music of the movies to life, while giving everyone the ability to relive one of the great masterpieces in cinema," Freer said.
NO STRANGER TO FILM CONCERTS
In a recent interview, Salonga said: "The Godfather Live is not a first for the MPO. There have already been quite a few film concerts presented by the MPO at DFP, and I have conducted quite a few as well, the first being 'Ratatouille' in 2016."
The best-known film concerts involving the MPO include 'Psycho' (2010), 'Home Alone' (2014), 'Casablanca' (2015), 'Ratatouille' (2016), 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' (2019), 'Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone' (2024), 'Avatar – The Last Airbender' (2024), 'Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets' (2025) and 'La La Land In Concert' (2025).
"We chose 'The Godfather' because it is a major achievement in cinematic history, the music is memorable and so closely associated with the subject of the film
"On a personal note I am a fan, and I had the original novel in my house when I was a kid," Salonga said.
He added that Michael Corleone played by Al Pacino was his favourite character in the movie.
"I have always been an admirer of Pacino and the character of Michael is complex and human.
"As for the movie score, it has always been on my bucket list, so I'm looking forward to hearing the MPO perform the iconic main theme from the film, as well as the trumpet solo."
A RESTAGING ON THE HORIZON
There will be approximately 60 musicians in the MPO this time, and 'The Godfather Live' may be restaged by popular demand.
"Prior to this, we've restaged a few other concerts," said Salonga, whose favourite score at DFP is a toss-up between 'Harry Potter' and 'Ratatouille'.
"Ratatouille has a beautiful score by Michael Giacchino, and it is memorable to me personally because that was the first concert I conducted with the MPO.
Salonga also hopes to conduct scores from other cinematic classics, including 'Star Wars', the remaining Harry Potter films, 'Gladiator', 'Amadeus', 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'Jurassic Park'.
"More and more films are being released as concerts with live orchestras, including 'Top Gun'!" he said.
The MPO also has plans to perform 'The Godfather Live' outside Kuala Lumpur.
"It would be nice for us, the MPO, to once again perform for more Malaysians, whether classical repertoire or a film concert.
"The orchestra belongs to Malaysians and everyone should be able to enjoy an MPO performance," Salonga added.