Want to get inside a Star Trek movie and actually be there when the live music is played that for everyone else is heard as the film’s soundtrack? This weekend is your chance.
“Star Trek: Live in Concert” is landing in San Antonio at the Majestic Theatre this Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. with a screening of “Star Trek Into Darkness” accompanied by the San Antonio Symphony’s live performance of composer Michael Giacchino’s thrilling musical score.
“Star Trek into Darkness,” director J.J. Abrams’ most recent blockbuster hit in the Star Trek franchise, will be performed “live to picture” by the orchestra.
“The orchestra will play the soundtrack as the film is showing, so the final product the patron will experience is the entire movie with the dialogue, the action, and the music – but the difference is the music is performed live,” said David Gross, president of the San Antonio Symphony.
The composer, Giacchino, is best known for creating scores for films including “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” and “Jupiter Ascending.” In 2006, he scored J.J. Abrams’ first feature film, “Mission: Impossible III,” and continued to work with him on “Cloverfield,” “Star Trek,” and “Super 8.”
Hear him talk about his work, his team and his early interest in Star Trek here:
The process of writing music for a film can be quite intensive. Typically the composer studies the final edit of the movie to coordinate the music he is composing with the action of the film, and then he scores it so that the instrumentation of the orchestra will highlight the action or the emotion taking place in the film, Gross explained.
Musicians will be wearing a click track, or an electronic metronome, throughout the performance, that is synchronized with the movie, and the conductor, Constantine Kitsopoulos, will use a monitor on display in front of him to keep time with the score.
“It’s a complicated process, but the end result is impressive, and the music is great music,” Gross said. “I think that for people who either normally do not attend the symphony concert or who want to experience the symphony in a different way, these performances resonate with a younger generation that will go and walk away saying they had a positive experience with the Symphony.
“We want the San Antonio Symphony to make it accessible to as many people as possible,” Gross said.
As part of the fun, the Symphony invites guests to come dressed as their favorite Starfleet crew member.
The “live to picture” action film will be featured in high-definition as the young Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise track down an indestructible rogue terrorist and, in the process, uncover a secret plot to militarize Starfleet and engage in all-out war with the Klingon Empire.
“Star Trek: Into Darkness” is one of two movie scores performed by the San Antonio Symphony, in addition to “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony” that was very popular with concertgoers. The symphony will be playing “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony II” next April, Gross said.
The San Antonio Symphony attended the Alamo City Comic Con this year to promote the Star Trek concert and is partnering with the Majestic Theatre to present and market it and other presentations.
Guests may want to purchase the Special VIP Experience to enjoy prime seating, a post-concert conversation with the conductor back stage, a “Star Trek: Into Darkness” poster and a chance to win autographed memorabilia signed by Giacchino. The VIP Experience is $150.
For box office and group sales information, click here.
Visit the San Antonio Symphony website for more information about “Star Trek Into Darkness” at www.sasymphony.org. Visit the Majestic Theatre website for more information about tickets here.
UPDATE: Rivard Report reader Will Maney has won two VIP tickets to this Friday’s show. Have fun, Will.
The Rivard Report is giving away a pair of VIP Experience tickets for the Friday evening performance. To enter, leave a comment on this story telling us who your favorite Star Trek character is – from any movie or television series. Be sure to provide your full name and email address in the correct fields. The Symphony will have the winners’ tickets available at will call, which concertgoers can pick up by providing a first and last name and photo ID.
*Featured/top image: A Star Trek performance at Royal Albert Hall in London. Photo credit of the Star Trek Live in Concert franchise.
Related stories:
VIDEO: Local Students ‘Link Up’ with San Antonio Symphony
San Antonio Symphony Celebrates 75th Anniversary
Something Monday Goes to the Majestic & Empire: Where the Stars Leave Their Mark
