The Lord of the Rings films still elicit joy, adventure, and excitement many years after their theatrical run. I was quickly reminded of this while attending The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King live concert in Toronto. The film’s brilliance and connection to the fans were still evident, even more than two decades after it hit theaters.
Some films are a perfect fit for the live orchestra treatment, and The Return of the King is indeed one of those films. The trilogy’s final film is full of powerful, emotional moments and action, lending itself beautifully to this sort of event. Howard Shore’s score is mesmerizing and complicated, and to experience this properly, Toronto made sure all points of music and song were covered. The orchestra, led by conductor Shih-Hung Young, gave the audience the full and all-encompassing sound, covering all the on-the-edge-of-your-seat moments while bringing the quieter moments out, perhaps an even more powerful experience than the bombastic action scenes.
The Amadeus Choir, The Bach Children’s Chorus, and the always impressive soloist Kaitlyn Lusk filled out the live musical component on stage. Lusk’s soaring notes and powerful voice made an impact as she stood before the microphone and graced the audience with her talents. It struck me that while the choir and Lusk were what most would consider background music, they were both integral to the musical component put together on stage. Shore’s score is demanding in parts, hauntingly beautiful in others, and, in this respect, there was no such thing as background musicians, just an incredible ensemble of talented and hardworking people who are masters at their crafts.
One of the wonderful things about events like these, especially with such a beloved and cherished film like The Return of the King, is the audience. For many, this is a journey of love; for others, they have seen the previous two films in the trilogy, the last two years in Toronto with the live orchestra and choir, so this is like the culmination of seeing the movies again. They know the characters, the dialogue, the big moments, and the heartfelt ones. They were captivated. The audience cheered, clapped, laughed, and cried, all the while lost in the moments of a film that belongs to one of the greatest trilogies ever made.
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Having spoken to conductors and musicians involved in these types of events, I can tell you that they enjoy these special moments themselves. They feed off the crowd’s energy, pushing them with a different energy they don’t usually feel. Granted, the film/live orchestra event is now commonplace worldwide, so it’s not like it’s still new. Still, it has morphed and developed into its own little place in the classical world, creating something more accessible to people of all ages. Exposing people to this kind of event is always a great thing.
It is truly remarkable that The Return of the King, first released theatrically worldwide on December 17, 2003, still has this powerful of an impact. Heck, the trilogy started early, in 2001, and yet here we are, still watching with bated breath in packed concert halls, reveling in a film that most know from start to finish.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy ended with The Return of the King. However, the power of the films, the actors, and the people involved have made this a legacy destined to entertain old and new fans for many years.