Raiders of The Lost Ark in Concert review, at Portsmouth Guildhall
A midweek night at the Guildhall watching Raiders of The Lost Ark on a large screen, with a live orchestra!
What more could a man in his early forties wish for? Reliving my childhood, the film never fails to entertain and certainly stands the test of time.
I found Raiders of the Lost Ark in Concert like seeing an old friend. You recognise the whip and the snake phobia, the great supporting cast of Indy's allies, old foes and Nazis. However, what set the standard for this cinematic classic was John Williams' iconic score. The Czech National Symphony Orchestra took this wonderful score and performed a faultless rendition. From the driving military horns of the scintillating Raiders March, the encapsulating strings of the Map Room and of course the haunting but beautiful Marion's Theme.
The film took us around the world to locations such as Nepal and Egypt, but the music took you far beyond such exotic locations. At times you forgot that the music was being performed live, being drawn in to the dramatic scenes, the orchestra were sublime and note perfect.
Some of the audience were in costume, complete with leather jacket, fedora and whip. This added to the atmosphere ensuring that everyone had a good '˜crack'.
An excellent orchestral performance coupled with a cinematic classic, produced a concert that all Indy fans should see.
NICK RALPH