This review is for the true Harry Potter fans. I am not here to decide who fits into that category; you know who you are.
Maybe you’re my friend Monica, who, when listening to the score of any Harry Potter film, can tell you exactly which scene from the eight movies a given piece is from. Then there are fans like myself, who have read the books 82 times over, but have only seen the movies once or twice. And then there are the folks who have only known Harry’s eyes to be blue and Lily’s to be brown, but love them just the same.
Or maybe you’ve experienced Harry Potter in every medium possible – books, movies, audiobooks, fanart, tumblr memes, BuzzFeed listicles – and you’re looking for your next fix.
This concert series is for all you guys. And who knows, maybe it’s even for those of you who have never fallen under the spell of Harry Potter, but are open to experiencing a little magic just the same.
John Williams’ original score for the Harry Potter movies is nothing short of John Williams, and the Istanbul Orchestra literally brought the soundtrack of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” to life; I mean, a simple flick of the harp string sends chills down your spine.
The night opened with Conductor Benjamin Pope welcoming the audience in adorably accented Turkish while wearing Hogwarts robes. Sifting through some of the beloved and nefarious characters with the audience, he encouraged us to boo and cheer along with movie. This isn’t a traditional night at the symphony, he assured us.
And it certainly was not. As soon as those first spooky notes tinkled through the theater and the Harry Potter opening apparated across the screen, the audience was overcome with emotion. The overture is certainly an unforgettable one, even if you haven’t seen the movies you know it. And hearing it from a live orchestra on Sunday night underscored just how iconic the music of these movies is. Suddenly, I felt as if I was about to watch a classical favorite, like Carmen or Swan Lake.
With clapping and cheering, the movie started, and the orchestra hit its stride.
The first 20 minutes was a struggle of wanting to watch every musician on stage do their thing while also keeping up with the drama of the Dursleys, the Weasleys and a flying car.
At times it was hard to focus on the orchestra with the movie rolling. This was especially true when soft filler music was being played, or during important dialogue or action-heavy sequences. At other times there was no music at all, and you were simply watching the movie — perhaps not ideal for any music buff or non-HP fan.
But then there were the truly moving moments: Watching the violinists’ frenzied strokes as Draco and Harry race for the snitch. Feeling the crash of the cymbals as Mr. Weasley’s Ford Anglia (which is sitting at Koç Museum, by the way) hurdles through the air. And there was one scene in particular that evoked a rousing round of applause from the audience, the audible crescendo of anxiety and terror as Harry and Ron manage to open the chamber of secrets.
The second installment of the Harry Potter series, the creepiest by far, has always been my least favorite. But the Istanbul Orchestra elevated the best part of the movie, John Williams’ delicately sinister score. As Conductor Pope reminded us, this was no traditional Carmen or Swan Lake after all, but it was certainly a night to remember.
I highly recommend any fan of the series to check out the next installment.
Zorlu PSM will be hosting a series of CineConcerts experiences — that means more memorable movies with just as memorable original scores. Keep an eye out for future shows. The next performance of a Harry Potter classic will be the Prisoner of Azkaban, December 14-15, 2018.
I so wish we could have gone to this!!!