One of the many reasons The Lord of the Rings trilogy has endured is the joy of rewatching these adventures over and over. As the films are studied, praised, and loved around the world, they are also periodically re-released in theaters for fans to enjoy again. For some, it was their first of many viewings. Now imagine adding a live orchestra and choir to accompany these films, elevating the songs and sounds even further, which happened this past weekend here in Toronto with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
As the first film in the LOTR trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring sets the stage for the adventure, introducing a wide range of good and evil characters and those who are somewhere in between. Frodo (Elijah Wood) is tasked with taking the One Ring, the most powerful and dangerous ring, back to Mordor to be cast into the flames where it was forged to be destroyed forever. He is joined by a diverse group of friends and unknowns, nine in total, forming the Fellowship on this quest, while other forces of good and evil around them prepare to either help or hinder their journey.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring rolled into Toronto’s wonderful Meridian Hall for three performances. There were no empty seats in the performance I saw as fans clapped, cheered, and laughed through the film. The audience enjoyed their favorite quotes, scenes, humor, and of course, the live orchestra and singers.
The love for these three films is impossible to overstate, as the fans’ energy filled the air, fueling everyone, including the performers. The show lasts three and a half hours, with a twenty-minute intermission, but time seemed to fly as we all immersed ourselves in the moment.
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The power of the live orchestra, choir, and two soloists was truly impressive. There were 250 musicians on stage from the FILMharmonique Orchestra, with the Amadeus Choir and Toronto Children’s Chorus delivering steady, powerful, and haunting vocals from the back.
Certain scenes in the film seemed to leap off the screen, with the string section delivering electricity and the brass, woodwinds, and percussion filling in beautifully at different moments and in unique ways. Hats off to the two talented soloists, whose soaring voices elevated some scenes to new emotional heights.
Howard Shore’s award-winning score is a challenging task, especially in a trilogy like this. However, as musicians and conductors have said over the years, they enjoy performing these kinds of events. It’s both demanding and enjoyable, feeding off the crowd’s energy and responding with their own, creating a vibrant exchange that washes over everyone and makes the event truly special.
While a score or soundtrack is always crucial in a film, when performed live by a full orchestra and singers, it becomes something entirely different, and that is a wonderful experience.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was released in theaters in 2001, and now, 25 years later, we’re still talking about the film and its two sequels, with millions of fans worldwide still enjoying it. It’s a rare feat to have all three films of a trilogy made with such care and attention to detail, with so many people supporting them for the right reasons.
But experiencing one of these films live with an orchestra, choir, and soloists is something every Lord of the Rings fan should try at least once in their lifetime. You won’t be disappointed.
The FILMharmonique Orchestra was formed in 2015 and is composed of world-class Canadian musicians. GFN is a Quebec-based music producer and promoter that presents over 75 concerts each year across Canada.
