From film to stage
SF Symphony helped me enjoy ‘Lord of the Rings’
Set against live music, the high-fantasy aspects of a wildly successful franchise are finally palatable for this cynic.
Unpopular opinion: I’m not a Lord of the Rings fan. This is a film franchise that’s grossed about $3 billion from beloved classic novels — I know I’m in the minority. I think it’s the renaissance faire World of Warcraft aesthetic of it all, from high fantasy books to the slow pace that kicks off Fellowship of the Ring. We get it, LotR: You’re an epic with lots of magical drama.
If anything could change my view, it’s the San Francisco Symphony and its concert series that sets film classics against live music. I always loved this concept but never experienced it, and I thought why not take my cherry with a film my boyfriend loves? He laced up in thigh-high boots and a steampunk-esque corset for the evening, but decided the leather gauntlet gloves were too Halloween for the occasion.
What I still never anticipate is the muchness of it all. It’s not just an orchestra — it’s two choirs, a soloist, and a lobby replete with simple but effective photo stations, props, and I’ll be honest: Attractive geeks. Come dressed up for this one.
Green hues dominated the evening. A photo station in the lobby invited attendees to don cloaks and stand in front of a lush green Hobbit-like backdrop, akin to the film universe. And of course the night would not be complete without running into David Reardon, San Francisco’s local red carpet addict who had not seen LotR, yet had the perfect outfit for the evening.
This is a deeper experience that enables us to feel the highs of victory and the depths of despair alongside Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn. And when the final note echoes through the hall, we’ve all taken a collective journey through our emotions and imaginations.
As children sang, drummers banged and percussionists plucked, conductor Ludwick Wicki followed along on a screen that flashed big dots and vertical lines to signify where the score was on film. Soprano Kaitlyn Lusk stood up in a glittery gown to belt out some harmonies whenever Liv Tyler made an appearance.
The San Francisco Symphony Chorus went mostly unseen behind a giant screen, but it’s worth noting they feature 120 volunteers and more than 30 professionals. It’s an element I quite honestly do not recall until I see them standing onstage, and then my boyfriend and I whisper about how it’s possible to employ about a hundred musicians and add this on top.
LotR still needed caffeine in its first half. The man behind me whispers what I’m thinking: “Oh there’s Agent Smith.” Then I lament quietly, “Good for Liv Tyler growing beyond Armageddon.” And listen I know hobbits are cute but who starts a fire in a world of monsters?
By the time the gang made it to the mines is when the experience really hit its stride. These are epic adventures! That pivotal moment with Gandalf on the bridge is one I’ve seen at least half a dozen times, but now I’m so immersed by music to actually feel it. I’m finally hooked enough to note that “you have chosen death” comes from LotR, and we finally reach the iconic “Thou shalt not pass” — which has been quoted, memed, and parodied countless times. This is more than just a line; it’s a mantra for anyone facing their own personal battles, a rallying cry that says, “I will not be defeated.”
LotR shall not be defeated by this cynic, and San Francisco Symphony helped me get there.
Listen these are expensive productions though. We saw $450 tickets available days before the show, so save those dollars for a film you really love. The Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, Gladiator, Encanto and Final Fantasy all have seats right now for less than $100, so snatch them now before they vanish like the One Ring.
Saul Sugarman is editor in chief of The Bold Italic.
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