No popcorn, no problem: MPO hits all the right notes with film concerts

The Star

6 days ago

These days, when you browse through the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra's (MPO) annual programme, you'll find special shows that take your movie experience to the next level at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) – where your favourite films come to life with live music by the MPO.
Since 2010, when it first screened Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller Psycho, the MPO has been delighting film lovers with its cinema-inspired programmes.
MPO and DFP chief executive officer Hassina Begam Abdul Gani said the orchestra began exploring film-with-live-orchestra programming as a way to diversify its music offerings and reach a newer, younger audience.
'The positive response from the public, evidenced by sold-out shows, has demonstrated a clear appetite for this type of programming, which has now become a 'signature series' for the MPO,' says Hassina.
By pairing orchestral music with popular films, the MPO has made classical music more accessible, offering an entry point for those who might not usually attend such concerts.
To date, the MPO has presented nine film-with-live-orchestra concerts, including Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the recent La La Land, which saw additional shows added due to high demand.
'For me, it's a less daunting introduction to classical music. While I'm not naturally inclined toward traditional concerts, a show like La La Land – though not strictly classical – provides a more accessible way to experience orchestral music,' says Adrian Yap, who attended La La Land at DFP, following his first experience with the format at Ratatouille (also at the DFP) in 2016.
A view of the 'La La Land In Concert' series presented by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra earlier this month at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: MPO
'Watching a film I enjoy while observing how the orchestra performs the score makes me more receptive to attending a traditional classical concert in the future,' he adds.
Rizal Johan, a fan of the film-with-orchestra format, recalls the Raiders Of The Lost Ark concert at the MPO in 2019 as a standout experience.
'The orchestra played flawlessly from start to finish. It was a unique experience – watching a film with live music and realising how challenging it is for the musicians to stay in sync as the mood shifts from action to comedy, suspense to romance. It was truly captivating,' he says, hoping the MPO will one day give a Star Wars film the full live-orchestra treatment.
Opening the symphonic door
MPO resident conductor Gerard Salonga notes that the movie screening concert series offers a distinct experience compared to the orchestra's usual performances.
'It's not like ballet or opera where the singers and dancers can hear the orchestra – the film stops for no one. In film music, normally the precision of the musical accents is down to a matter of a few frames which are fractions of a second,' says Salonga.
Another challenge is that, although the music is usually well-known, it is not typically part of the repertoire that professional musicians have been playing for many years.
'For example, the first violin part of Don Juan by Richard Strauss is incredibly difficult, but violinists are expected to know the piece well, and have been playing it since they were very young," says Salonga.
Next month, the MPO's film-and-orchestra series will feature the classic movie 'The Godfather', starring Marlon Brando. Photo: Handout
'The violin part of John Williams' ET score is also very hard, but musicians would not have spent the same amount of time with it throughout their lives, making the learning curve steeper due to the shorter time to learn it. For a symphony orchestra like the MPO, it makes for an exciting and musically rewarding challenge for both the performers and the audience,' he adds.
The Filipino conductor-composer agrees that film concerts are an excellent way to engage audiences with symphonic repertoire.
"In films scored by John Williams, the music is directly influenced by great composers such as Mahler and Stravinsky, so these concerts serve to introduce the audience to their orchestras and form a connection with the artists on stage through sharing a profound experience," says Salonga.
'So I hope for our audience members, these film concerts can unlock the door to the world of symphonic music and encourage them to discover the riches that await,' he concludes.
For Father's Day on June 14, experience The Godfather Live at DFP. Watch Francis Ford Coppola's classic 1972 film in high definition while the MPO, led by Salonga, performs Nino Rota's legendary soundtrack live – bringing every haunting note and emotional moment to the forefront.
More info here.