Home Alone Live Review at the Royal Albert Hall by Ryan Beardsley
Despite my love of music, I consider myself a film geek first and foremost, so when I heard that the Royal Albert Hall would be screening classic movies accompanied by a live orchestra, I was giddy with excitement. When I saw that they were showing Home Alone over the festive period, well, I knew I had to be there.
Every seat is filled, and the Christmas spirit is in the air as the players take to the stage and the excitement is palpable. I’ll assume at this point, dear readers that the majority of you are familiar with the plot; if not it goes like this: Precocious toerag and youngest sibling Kevin is left behind in his opulent family home after his family make a late dash to the airport. Hilarity ensues as two hapless home invaders do their worst to break in and loot the place, with only Kevin standing in their way.
The 1990 smash hit is a festive favourite across the world, but just as beloved as the characters and set pieces is the timeless, John Williams Academy Award-nominated score, tonight performed in full by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus.
It was my first time at a live soundtrack performance but I must say, I was utterly enchanted from start to finish. From the moment the first bars of the cherished score were performed, I was completely transfixed. I had some concerns about how the live music would affect the mix and if the dialogue would be drowned out, but the tech set-up could not have been better; every sound was as crisp as the December air.
The stars of the show were the choir, bringing the church scenes to life in an unforgettable moment, before their rendition of the treasured Somewhere In My Memory at the finale had the entire hall holding its breath and blinking back tears.
The classical musicians were, as one would expect, note-perfect and indistinguishable from the recorded score. I couldn’t help but be amused at spotting which of the orchestra members were watching the movie between their performances, which added to the fun. By the time the end credits rolled, they received a much-deserved standing ovation and acknowledgement that they had given the five thousand people in attendance a festive treat that will live long in the memory.
I’ve already made plans to head back for the Interstellar screening in April and frankly, I’m telling everyone I know to book early for Home Alone 2 next year, I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Merry Christmas ya filthy animals!
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