The experience and excitement of a live film concert is unlike anything else. Hearing these iconic scores performed live as the film is played, accompanied by full orchestra, is truly unique.
In December of 2017, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra held a concert event that reignited Melbourne’s love for Star Wars. Held at the Palais Theatre, the MSO presented Star Wars: The Force Awakens as a Film Concert. Now, over seven years later, the MSO are back with another great live performance of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Conducted by Benjamin Northey, this special film concert experience is being held at the iconic Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall over three performances.
First, a quick recap of the film; 30 years after the fall of the Empire in Star Was: Return of the Jedi, a new evil has risen. Known as The First Order, this new band of Imperialists are picking up where the Empire left off, trying to conquer the galaxy. Led by a mysterious Sith Lord known only as Snoke (Andy Serkis) and his apprentice Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), The First Order have built a new weapon that rivals the Death Star.
The First Order are also seeking out the map to the last known location of the last Jedi, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). The map is being couriered by Resistance fighter Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and his droid unit, BB-8. After being captured, Poe finds an unlikely ally in a Stormtrooper turned defector, Finn (John Boyega). After escaping The First Order and crashing on a nearby planet, they are split up. Finn finds BB-8 on the planet and aligns himself with a scrapper known as Rey (Daisy Ridley).
The First Order finds Finn and the BB unit, forcing Finn, Rey and BB-8 to flee. Escaping from the planet of Jakku, they commandeer the Millennium Falcon and eventually find themselves in alliance with Han Solo (Harisson Ford) and Chewie (Peter Mayhew). The group of unlikely heroes band together to join the Resistance fighters, to take out the First Orders’ new weapon and locate Luke Skywalker.
Now to its score, or the master behind it, John Williams is known for writing themes and motifs for multiple aspects of the films that he scores. Whether it be for a love interest, a standalone character, a whole group like The Resistance, and even a ship, Williams masterfully brings these characters personalities and these special moments to life through his music. With Star Wars: The Force Awakens; John Williams has the unique opportunity to mix the old with the new, cementing its score as one of the best in the series.
The live performance highlights moments in the score that you may otherwise have miss. Not just audibly, but visually. The incredible composition from John Williams is already powerful enough to convey the emotion and energy of the film, but seeing the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra fiercely and swiftly move along to the music really enhanced this feeling. None more so than when The Resistance launched their counteroffensive on the planet of Takodana. Experiencing the excitement, thrill, determination and urgency on screen, and on stage as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra performed ‘The Resistance March’, gave me chills and had myself, as many others in the Hamer Hall audience, shamelessly at the edge of our seats and beaming with pure delight.
Other notable moments in the score are the re-introduction of the famous motifs from the original trilogy, such as when Rey and Finn first board the Millennium Falcon, the ship’s motif plays ever so briefly, highlighting its importance. The subtle notes of Han and Leia’s theme and the hints of Luke’s themes that are hidden throughout the score, cleverly link the original film trilogy to the new.
Out of all the film concert series that the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra have performed, there’s truly nothing like a Star Wars film concert. It is fascinating, captivating and an honour, seeing Star Wars’ grand and emotive music score, composed the legendary John Williams, performed live by the MSO in a priceless concert experience. Even if this space epic may not be your favourite in the beloved film franchise, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and John Williams’ majestic and magical compositions alone more than make up for it.
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is performing Star Wars: The Force Awakens In Concert at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall over three concerts. I attended the first show on Thursday the 22nd of May. With only two performances left, on Friday the 23rd of May at 7:30pm and Saturday the 24th of May at 1pm, accept your fate and go witness John Williams’ arguably best score of the beloved space-adventure film franchise, live.
For more information and ticket, visit:
https://www.mso.com.au/performance/2025-star-wars-the-force-awakens
https://www.mso.com.au/whats-on