We solemnly swear we had a good time — live music, a brilliant film…what more could you want!
Presented by: Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and CineConcerts
Reviewed: 7 June, 2025
There’s something magical about going to the movies and seeing a film on the big screen, but that’s nothing compared to the magic created by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra when they play that film score live in the room.
Over the past few years, our beloved Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO) has presented the Harry Potter films in concert. The film is played above the stage with the original score removed so it can be played live by the ASO.
The popularity of these events has only grown, with the Entertainment Centre main arena near capacity for the screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 – in concert.
These ‘in concert’ events are a brilliant way to introduce people to the world of orchestral music in an accessible way. For avid music lovers, you are drawn more to the individual elements of the score. I found myself hearing a familiar score in a new way, and I found a new appreciation for the subtleties of this spellbinding score, from rumbling bass and cello motives to subtle woodwind countermelodies.
Alexandre Desplat’s score is simply stunning. Drawing on themes from John Williams’ original score, Desplat knows how to write to emphasize every emotion, action and thought that plays out in the film. When you have a live orchestra in front of you, you are also drawn to how a composer can just as powerfully use silences in films to bring across a particular point.
The whole evening was under the expert guidance of conductor Jessica Gethin. It was clear that Gethin has a strong love of the score of Harry Potter. She had the ASO under her spell. This is a complex score, but our ASO handled it with absolute procession.
Gethin announced that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 in Concert will premiere in 2026, but if you cannot wait that long, the ASO has two more ‘in concert’ performances later this year: Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert on Saturday 9th August, and Back to the Future in Concert on Saturday 15th November. Both performances will be at the Entertainment Centre Main Arena and are on sale now via the ASO’s website.
Reviewed by Ben Stefanoff
Photo credit: Supplied
Venue: Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Main Arena
Season: Saturday 7 June, 2025
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