Music / Heroes and Villains, Music from the Movies, National Capital Orchestra. At Snow Concert Hall, September 8. Reviewed by ROB KENNEDY.

Cinema on the concert stage pulls huge crowds across the world, so did this one. This concert transported the audience through the magical world of cinema, as it revived a selection of movie favourites with a program of iconic film music.

Under music director Louis Sharpe, the National Capital Orchestra (NCO), in its first performance at Snow Concert Hall, played a selection of uplifting and uproarious music from the movies.

Opening with the Star Wars Suite, by John Williams, the massive NCO, and I mean massive, as they stretched from side to side of the stage with every instrument and player that a major symphony orchestra has and more, they burst into the Star Wars theme.

Several players were complete with storm trooper masks, capes, and colourful garments. They produced a fiery opening, but then, Sharpe picked up a long neon-red light sabre, donned a mask and led his huge team through the penetrating, impressive Imperial March. I won’t mention he hit the above microphone array in his enthusiasm.

After that powerful beginning, the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, by Howard Shore arr. Jerry Brubaker. This moving arrangement of Shore’s music tested the orchestra through wide-ranging dynamics and delicate subtleties, and they were up to the task.

Before the interval, The Dam Busters: March, by Eric Coates, from the 1955 British classic. Rousing, sentimental, warlike, jovial and compelling. Yes, this march has it all. Spectacular stuff from the NCO.

The Complete Harry Potter, arr. Jerry Brubaker, opened with Hedwig’s Theme, which is heard through all eight films, plus a selection of music from each one filled this enticing suite. Never having seen or read any Harry Potter, the music made me want to dip my toe into this magical world.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Medley, by Klaus Badelt arr. Ted Ricketts immediately hit with the sound of adventure. The seas swelled, the black flag threatened, through the voyage of this excellent composition we were all pirates. The NCO nailed this one.

With organ and ocean drums emulating the sound of water, which was inspiration for the Interstellar Suite, by Hans Zimmer arr. Daniel de la Rosa Olivia, this one massive crescendo, was one massive aural sensation. The explosive smash on the Tam Tam at the end signalled its final escape.

The last work, How to Train your Dragon: End Credits, by John Powell is a mighty work and an exciting ride that took the audience from sea to sky. It was such an excellent way to end this concert of Heroes and Villains. The near capacity audience loved it all, as did this reviewer.