From Hogwarts to Jurassic Park: MSO plays Hollywood on 28 June

Audiences can expect a sweeping night of symphonic cinema as the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) presents A Night in Hollywood, the second concert in its 99th season, on Saturday, 28 June, at 7:30 p.m. at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City.

The program brings together a mix of original works for film, iconic Hollywood scores, and guest performances by acclaimed international artists, all conducted live in one of the most ambitious MSO events of the year.

At the heart of the evening are signature works by John Williams, including Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter, Adventures on Earth from E.T., Theme from Schindler’s List performed by violinist Alessio Benvenuti, Theme from Superman, Por Una Cabeza arranged by Williams and performed by violinist Jeanne Rafaella Marquez, Theme from Jurassic Park and the Olympic Fanfare and Theme.

Hungarian cellist Zoltán Onczay, one of the evening’s featured soloists, will perform in two works: the End Titles from Seven Years in Tibet by John Williams and Hungarian Rhapsody by David Popper. The program also includes a tribute suite arranged by Williams that honors legendary film composers Max Steiner, Bernard Herrmann and Henry Mancini.

Adding to the night’s momentum is a lineup of seven original orchestral works by composers from the Los Angeles Film Conducting Intensive (LAFCI), a U.S.-based organization that trains composers and conductors for the film and media industries. These include Heart of a Warrior by Sophia Bass, Seeming Chrysalis by Julia Sanchez, Theme from Stolen Realm by Jennifer Jolley, Sigh of Spring’s Farewell by Yuxuan Liu, Concert Prelude on “Chan Mali Chan” by Mohamad Rasull, Journey Through the Celestial Gate by Robin Raisch, and Mosaic Mambo by Noah N. Zubia-Sanchez, to be conducted by Ricardo Reyna. Each composition showcases new music composed specifically for film, expanding the concert’s scope from Hollywood classics to contemporary cinematic voices.

The concert is the culmination of a week-long collaboration between MSO and LAFCI. Seven LAFCI composers are in Manila to work directly with the orchestra.

Taking the podium is Angel Velez, American conductor and LAFCI co-founder, who brings extensive experience from both Hollywood scoring stages and international concert halls. Velez has conducted music from Star Wars: Rebels, The Mandalorian, and Family Guy, and has produced live-to-picture concerts for Captain Marvel, Green Book and The Book of Boba Fett.

He has also served as music director for the Los Angeles Live Score Film Festival, the American Society of Cinematographers Awards, and Miss World 2022. His concert productions include Silent Films LIVE, Star Wars: Past and Present and HBO’s For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story LIVE IN CONCERT.

Joining him onstage is Zoltán Onczay, an award-winning cellist who earned his diploma from the Liszt Music Academy in Budapest and later trained in Berlin under Wolfgang Boettcher. Onczay has received the Yamaha Award from the European Yamaha Music Foundation, among numerous other accolades, and has performed extensively across Europe. He is also known for his work in electroacoustic and improvisational music, and for promoting Hungarian music and mentoring young talents.

The LAFCI program is dedicated to training media composers in real-world studio and concert settings. Through this partnership with MSO, Filipino audiences are offered a rare chance to witness how orchestral film music is composed, conducted and brought to life in performance.