Jersey Arts previews Home Alone concerts
Jersey Arts’ “Culture Vultures” previews the NJSO’s live performances of Home Alone this weekend at NJPAC in Newark and the State Theatre in New Brunswick:
Even though the film depicts every parent’s nightmare, “Home Alone,” has remained a modern holiday classic ever since its release in 1990. The film stars Macaulay Culkin as a boy who is accidentally left behind when his family flies to Paris for Christmas vacation. While away, Culkin’s character is left to defend his home from two burglars roaming the area. It’s a comedy that resembles a live action cartoon, and one that millions of families have enjoyed for decades.
But this December, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will present the film as never seen before ... The NJSO will mark the 25th anniversary of “Home Alone” with special screenings that bring the film’s wonderful score by John Williams to life through live orchestral accompaniment.
Conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos, who will lead the NJSO in the performance, believes hearing a live orchestra alongside the film makes the experience more visceral for the audience. When music is heard in films or on television, it is generally mixed in the background. Here, the music will be much more prominent, but won’t disturb the dialogue or sound effects.
“There’s nothing like the experience of hearing a live symphony orchestra,” said Kitsopoulos. “It’s one of those experiences that everybody should have. The audience is going to hear a lot more detail — more than they have ever noticed before — and that makes it exciting. It’s a living, breathing entity.”
It’s also a wonderful opportunity for parents to introduce their children to the symphony. Kitsopoulos says that the audiences for these film-related performances are often full of people who have never heard a live symphony before.
“We’re trying to hook people on the sound of the orchestra and the experience of hearing the beautiful sounds that all of these professional musicians can make together. It’s a variety of colors and sounds… it’s quite thrilling!”
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“Ever since ‘Home Alone’ appeared, it has held a unique place in the affections of a very broad public,” said composer John Williams. “Director Chris Columbus brought a uniquely fresh and innocent approach to this delightful story, and the film has deservedly become a perennial favorite at holiday time. I took great pleasure in composing the score for the film, and I am especially delighted that the magnificent New Jersey Symphony Orchestra has agreed to perform the music in a live presentation of the movie. I know I speak for everyone connected with the making of the film in saying that we are greatly honored by this event… and I hope that audiences will experience the renewal of joy that the film brings with it, each and every year.”