I am not old enough to have experienced Star Wars in theaters when it debuted in 1977. However, watching A New Hope on the big screen with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra performing John Williams’ iconic score live was an experience that must rival what that experience would have been like.
In honor of Star Wars Day, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra–conducted by Lucas Richman–accompanied a screening of the 1977 film for Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert at the Collins Center for the Arts at the University of Maine. While I have seen the film many times over, the rare opportunity to hear the BSO play the John Williams alongside was a chance I was not going to pass up. It was well worth the price of admission.
As the lights dimmed and the iconic Star Wars crawl began, I was instantly overcome with emotion. As the Bangor Symphony Orchestra struck the first note of the Star Wars Main Title, it hit me in a way I hadn’t expected, leaving me on the verge of tears. The live orchestra preforming the Star Wars Main Title was truly fantastic. An experience like nothing else I have enjoyed while watching a feature film. Once I settled into the movie, I was able to come into my own a bit and enjoy the film and music alike.
The Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s performance of A New Hope was so remarkable that at times, you forget the orchestra is playing live and not the original score. Fans of the BSO might not have been surprised, but one would imagine that the original score being so iconic you’d be able to tell even the slightest difference. That was not the case on May 4.
The experience was truly like nothing else. However, there were a couple of drawbacks worth noting. Moments such as the Cantina scene weren’t played live, likely a decision made by Lucasfilm and Disney rather than the BSO. Additionally, the seating at the Collins Center wasn’t ideal for this type of viewing. The screen’s height made it uncomfortable for those in certain seats—including ours, which we initially thought were great. While this minor inconvenience left us with sore necks, it didn’t take away from the incredible experience. It’s something I’ll keep in mind, though, when looking at similar events, like the upcoming The Nightmare Before Christmas showing in October.
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert was one of the best viewings of the film I have ever experienced. The Bangor Symphony Orchestra delivered an exceptional performance of John Williams’ iconic score and of course the film was shown with all of its glory. If you ever have the chance to watch a film accompanied by a live orchestra, especially if it’s a Star Wars film, don’t miss it!
To learn more about how we feel about the film itself, check out our review from Star Wars Week 2024.
