A NOSTALGIA-FILLED NIGHT FEATURING HOLLYWOOD’S GREATEST SOUNDTRACKS

By Rachel Cameron-Potter | Stuff Rachel Says ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Tucked away in London’s cultural corridor, a once-derelict church situated a short walk from Westminster Abbey is now home to Sinfonia Smith Square, following a merger between Southbank Sinfonia Orchestra and St John Smith’s Square.

The Baroque church underwent its first transformation in the 1960s, after the remnants of the church that had survived the Blitz were transformed into a music hall fit for the big screen. As well as boasting amazing acoustics, the chequered floors and imposing pillars have captured the imagination of filmmakers over the years, with the cinematic space chosen as a film spot by directors time and time again.

With such a star-studded history, it only made sense to celebrate the merger with an orchestral performance of some of cinema’s greatest hits.

After introductory talks from St John Smith’s Square CEO Rosie Fraser and Sinfonia Southbank Principal Conductor Simon Over, the audience migrated from the crypt-turned-entrance hall to the performance space above, taking their seats as the 39-piece orchestra readied themselves for the evening ahead.

After a rendition of the 20th Century Fox Fanfare directed by Peter Michael Davison, the orchestra kicked off the night with John Williams’ ‘Main Theme’ from Star Wars and ‘E.T. The Extra Terrestrial: Adventures on Earth’, the columns surrounding the stage lighting up to add to the atmosphere of the score. Bernard Hermann’s Psycho soundtrack saw the stage light up in red as the violins reached their eerie crescendo, before shifting to a more calming green for Joe Hisaishi’s nostalgic ‘Studio Ghibli Melody.’ Alan Menkin’s ‘Aladdin Suite’ turned the stage purple, and Danny Elfman’s ‘Batman Titles’ warranted the iconic Bat Signal to be projected across the back of the stage.

THE SINFONIA SMITH SQUARE PARTNERSHIP IS THE ONE TO WATCH THIS SUMMER

Between each section, members of the orchestra would introduce sections, breaking up the melodies with film trivia and their own personal takes on the scores. Alan Menkin’s ‘Aladdin Suite’ was prefaced by the fact he won an Oscar and a Golden Raspberry in the same year, and horn player Frank Walker noted that the psychedelic pink elephants scene from children’s classic Dumbo was, in fact, terrifying.

Ending the night with John Williams’ infamous ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Suite’ and ‘Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Suite’, and Adam Silverstri’s ‘Back to the Future,’ the orchestra were wholly deserving of the standing ovation they received. The Sinfonia seamlessly transitioned between scores throughout the night, the dynamics of the setlist fluctuating between tempos without feeling too jarring, making for a nostalgia-filled night featuring Hollywood’s greatest soundtracks.

As St John Smith’s Square starts a new chapter in its cultural history, ‘A Night At The Movies’ was the perfect way to celebrate its new beginnings as the home of an orchestra while alluding to its cinematic past. With many shows in the pipeline, the Sinfonia Smith Square partnership is the one to watch this summer, with plenty more opportunities to “sit back, relax, and enjoy the music” in store.

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