Reading holds an annual programme of classical music events called “Classical Music Alive” which includes a variety of events. As part of this we went last night to the Hexagon to see Film Music Gala. This was basically classical music but for those that are afraid of classical music!
I’d never seen the Hexagon so full – not of attendees, although pretty much every seat was taken, but of musicians. I’m used to going there for gigs where the most you’d get is eight on stage. Here there must have been maybe sixty players including 15 violinists. There were so many on stage that they had to completely open up the back of the stage. Once again I was left asking myself just how do they manage to pay all these people so that they can make a living?
Baton-waving
At the front and centre of the orchestra was the conductor, Stephen Bell, looking like Mark Williams (Mr Weasley) furiously waving his baton and leaping up and down! Does anyone know what those baton-waving moves mean? Is there a manual anywhere? Anyway, for me, Mr Bell really made the concert with his light hearted chats between each piece. For example after playing the excellent Wallace and Grommit theme he announced that it was by composer Julian Nott who’d also written the theme for Peppa Pig “beloved by children and ex-prime ministers alike”. This was said with a twinkle in his eye!
Williams Heavy
Over the course of a couple of hours we were treated to classics such as Out of Africa (John Barry), 633 Squadron, The Great Escape (in which we, the audience, had a staring role whistling), Born Free (Barry again, I love his lush strings) and lots and lots of John Williams: Superman, Star Wars (main theme, Princess Leia’s theme and Darth Vader’s theme), Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET and Schindler’s List. Hearing the latter reminded me of the following quote.
On seeing Schindler’s List Williams said ‘You need a better composer than I am for this film.’
Spielberg replied, ‘I know. But they’re all dead!’
For me the concert was a little too Williams heavy (there was no Thomas Newman or Danny Elfman for example), probably 50% in fact. Williams is an odd character in that so much of his work sounds, to me, to be very alike. The themes from Superman, Harry Potter, ET and Indiana Jones all sound very similar but then he comes along with the Leia and Vader themes from Star Wars and Schindler’s List which show his versatility. Of course he holds the record for the most Oscar nominations by a living person so clearly others hold him in higher esteem than I.
It was an excellent concert and, as the conductor said you can’t beat hearing an orchestra live and he was absolutely right. Next stop, The Proms…
Sounds quite awesome! I used to go to discos and see a couple of rock bands at the Hexagon in the early 80s. The Hexagon will be half a century old next year!
Have you seen that the council have got approval to do it up and add a new 300 seat smaller venue too? It’s long overdue. You can read about it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-68698044