Classic Melbourne
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Calendar
    • Terms and conditions
    • Apply to post your events
    • Post Your Event
  • Newsletter Signup
  • About
  • Contact
Classic Melbourne
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Calendar
    • Terms and conditions
    • Apply to post your events
    • Post Your Event
  • Newsletter Signup
  • About
  • Contact

MSO: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 

by Carol van Opstal 4th February, 2019
by Carol van Opstal 4th February, 2019

Over the weekend, families and friends converged upon the Arts Centre, with the excitement of J.K. Rowling’s characters gathering at Kings Cross Station at the beginning of the school term. Instead of Platform 9 ¾, the audience entered various portals to Hamer Hall, to be transported to the magical world of Harry Potter.  

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire recounts Harry and his friends’ fourth year at Hogwarts, the preeminent school of witchcraft and wizardry. It also marks the first soundtrack to be penned by Patrick Doyle, for the series of film adaptations previously composed by John Williams.  (Williams was unable to write the score owing to scheduling conflicts with Star Wars III, Memoirs of a Geisha and Munich, among others.)  

Three new major musical themes were introduced in this film, representing Harry’s nemesis, Lord Voldemort; Harry’s crush on Cho Chan; and, of course, the Triwizard Cup. Doyle’s soundtrack is not inconsistent with that of his predecessor (whose themes are still present in the score). Moreover, Doyle competently took the score to a darker place than we’d experienced in the previous films. After all, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is notable for the evolution of Rowling’s novels to more mature and dramatic themes.  

Nevertheless, it’s all about entertainment, and the feeling at Hamer Hall was suitably festive. Large banners festooned the hallowed Hamer Hall, representing the Houses of Hogwarts (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and yes, even Slytherin).  

Conductor Nicholas Buc breezed onto the stage and offered a warm and friendly welcome to the audience. Mentioning each of the Hogwarts Houses by name, he asked audience members to raise their hands when they heard the name of their House. I’ve officially been sorted by the Sorting Hat, and my arm shot proudly into the air at the mention of Gryffindor. I tried to get my companion to raise her hand when Slytherin was called out, but she merely crossed her arms firmly across her chest and sank further in her seat: a cowardly act befitting her fellow housemate, Draco Malfoy, and one which caused us both to laugh heartily. It was such a fun way to warm up the audience, who were further encouraged by Nicholas Buc to applaud and cheer both the performances on screen and that of the Orchestra.  

The lights dimmed and dramatic music burst forth as the film began. Any concerns I might have had about the dialogue competing with the music were quickly dispelled with the appearance of sub-titles, enabling the audience to follow the most nuanced of dialogue, while still enjoying the MSO’s wonderful performance. Indeed, I was heartened to hear the audience applauding the Orchestra at the completion of a number of scenes.  

One might expect to be most impressed with the magical or epic themes performed in the Harry Potter films, so I was surprised to find myself moved almost to tears by the waltz theme that accompanies a montage showing the students learning to dance in the lead-up to the Yule Ball. It is one of the most poignant moments in all of the Harry Potter films, for we see Neville Longbottom, a heretofore hapless student of Hogwarts, gracefully dancing around his dorm room. It is a beautiful scene, but it was the Orchestra’s delicacy performing the accompanying theme that made the scene so powerfully moving. 

The competition for the Triwizard Cup, around which the film revolves, is not without its risks (RIP Cedric Diggory). Thankfully, none of the audience or Orchestra members were harmed, and, at the conclusion of the film, all seemed enthusiastically grateful for having shared the experience.  

________________________________________________ 

Carol van Opstal attended the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s performance of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” at Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall on January 31, 2019.

0
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
Carol van Opstal

previous post
Les Misérables
next post
Cassandra

Events Calendar

Loading view.
  • July 2022

Calendar of Events

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

S Sun

1 event, 27

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Affinity Quartet – Through the Looking Glass

June 27 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Affinity Quartet – Through the Looking Glass

The next generation of Australia’s chamber music stars. Program Caroline Shaw Entr’acte Joseph Haydn String Quartet Op.76/4 ‘Sunrise’ Béla Bartók String…

$40 – $50

1 event, 28

7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Great Performers Series: Diana Doherty & Bernadette Harvey

June 28 @ 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Great Performers Series: Diana Doherty & Bernadette Harvey

A commanding, trailblazing oboist at the top of her musical game. In this concert, Diana Doherty unites with pianist Bernadette Harvey…

$49 – $115

0 events, 29

1 event, 30

7:30 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Ninth

June 30 @ 7:30 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Ninth

Xian Zhang, the first female conductor to hold a titled role with a BBC Orchestra, joins forces with the MSO and…

$64 – $119

1 event, 1

7:30 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Ninth

July 1 @ 7:30 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Ninth

Xian Zhang, the first female conductor to hold a titled role with a BBC Orchestra, joins forces with the MSO and…

$64 – $119

1 event, 2

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Melbourne Bach Choir: A Concert for Peace

July 2 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Melbourne Bach Choir: A Concert for Peace

lMelbourne Bach Chamber Choir & Orchestra, organ and soloists, conducted by Rick Prakhoff A programme of works on the theme of…

$25 – $40

0 events, 3

1 event, 4

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Duo Eclettico – From the Forest and Seas

July 4 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Duo Eclettico – From the Forest and Seas

About Duo Eclettico Award-winning Duo Eclettico explore the wealth of repertoire available for their unique combination of instruments – saxophone and…

$40 – $50

1 event, 5

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Evolution of the Piano

July 5 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Evolution of the Piano

Tracing the piano’s metamorphosis through time. About the artists Stephanie McCallum has become renowned for a pianistic practice based on refined…

$40 – $50

1 event, 6

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Arcadia Winds – Destiny

July 6 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Arcadia Winds – Destiny

Unrivaled energy and spontaneity inspired by the notion of destiny. About Arcadia Winds Arcadia Winds are trailblazers for Australian wind music,…

$30 – $37

1 event, 7

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Kristian Chong & Friends – The Brahms’ Sonatas with Timo Veikko Valve

July 7 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Kristian Chong & Friends – The Brahms’ Sonatas with Timo Veikko Valve

From brooding to vibrant with Brahms’s sonatas for cello and piano. About Kristian Chong & Friends Kristian Chong and Friends is…

$40 – $50

0 events, 8

0 events, 9

0 events, 10

0 events, 11

1 event, 12

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Parlour – Women’s Voices

July 12 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Parlour – Women’s Voices

A uniquely moving experience in celebration of women. About the artists The Parlour focuses on the sung storytelling of Art Song…

$30 – $37

0 events, 13

0 events, 14

0 events, 15

0 events, 16

0 events, 17

0 events, 18

0 events, 19

0 events, 20

0 events, 21

0 events, 22

0 events, 23

0 events, 24

0 events, 25

0 events, 26

0 events, 27

0 events, 28

0 events, 29

0 events, 30

0 events, 31

June 27
June 27 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Affinity Quartet – Through the Looking Glass

June 28
June 28 @ 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Great Performers Series: Diana Doherty & Bernadette Harvey

  • There are no events on this day.
June 30
June 30 @ 7:30 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Ninth

July 1
July 1 @ 7:30 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Ninth

July 2
July 2 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Melbourne Bach Choir: A Concert for Peace

  • There are no events on this day.
July 4
July 4 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Duo Eclettico – From the Forest and Seas

July 5
July 5 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Evolution of the Piano

July 6
July 6 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Arcadia Winds – Destiny

July 7
July 7 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Kristian Chong & Friends – The Brahms’ Sonatas with Timo Veikko Valve

July 12
July 12 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Parlour – Women’s Voices

July 7
July 7 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Kristian Chong & Friends – The Brahms’ Sonatas with Timo Veikko Valve

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
July 12
July 12 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The Parlour – Women’s Voices

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
View Calendar

Classic Melbourne’s reviews policy

audio
Our point of differenceby Editor Suzanne Yanko

Your browser does not support the audio element.

Follow us on Facebook

Classic Melbourne

Melbourne Arts Centre

Melbourne Arts Centre

Melbourne Recital Centre

Melbourne Recital Centre

Introducing Classic Melbourne

audio
Speech at launch by Conductor Andrew Wailes

Your browser does not support the audio element.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

@2019 - All Right Reserved.

Read alsox

12th PSMF Opens with Godfather, Father &...

9th January, 2019

Australian Ballet: Murphy

26th March, 2018

Hamer Singers Debut Concert

9th December, 2017