After presenting Star Wars: A New Hope live in concert on Saturday 7 July, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) has announced it will be presenting the next installment of the concert series this December.
QSO, led by conductor Nicholas Buc, will perform Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back on Saturday 1 December, with Oscar Award-winning composer John Williams’ musical score performed live to the film. The fifth episode of the saga, the film follows Han Solo and Princess Leia as they flee from an attack by the Imperial Forces and are captured by the notorious Darth Vader. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) journeys to the mysterious, marshy planet of Dagobah, where the wise Jedi Master Yoda teaches the young hero the ways of the Force. A stunning revelation – and a seemingly life-or-death duel with Darth Vader – await.
Since the release of the first Star Wars movie more than 40 years ago, the saga has had a seismic impact on both cinema and culture, inspiring audiences around the world with its mythic storytelling, captivating characters, ground-breaking special effects and iconic musical scores composed by Williams. Fans will be able to experience the scope and grandeur of the film in a live symphonic concert experience.
Composer Williams is well-known for scoring all eight of the Star Wars saga films, beginning with 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope, for which he earned an Academy Award for Best Original Score. His scores for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi each were nominated for Oscars for Best Original Score. In 2005, the American Film Institute selected Williams’ score to 1977’s Star Wars as the greatest American film score of all time. The soundtrack to Star Wars also was preserved by the Library of Congress in the National Recording Registry, for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Not sure what to expect? Read our review of the first QSO Star Wars mash up.
