In the era of silent films, movies were always accompanied by live music, turning them into special events. “As time went on, theaters became smaller,” explained Steve Linder. “Then people started watching on their TVs, then on computers, and now on their phones.” Linder, the co-founder of Film Concerts Live, is part of a group that provides orchestras with the sheet music and equipment needed to perform these movie scores. “Our goal is to bring back the original moviegoing experience with live music in a communal setting.”
For Borda, the live movie scores are a great way to attract new and younger audiences to the concert hall. “Nearly half of those attending our film series are first-time visitors to the New York Philharmonic and the concert hall,” she noted. Conducting these shows can be a challenge, as the conductor must juggle watching the musicians, following the score, and coordinating with a special monitor running the film. To keep the music in sync with the movie, vertical bars called streamers are used as cues for important musical moments.
Anthony Parnther, who conducted the Philharmonic’s screening of “Jaws,” also works on Hollywood film recording sessions for movies like “Oppenheimer,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Parnther believes that these concerts are not just crowd-pleasers but offer a unique experience for both musicians and conductors. With over a thousand live-orchestra movie screenings annually, popular blockbusters like “Jurassic Park,” “Superman,” “Harry Potter,” and “The Lord of the Rings” are fan favorites.
While some orchestra members like Ryan Roberts use clever methods to watch the movies during performances, the New York Philharmonic maintains its focus on traditional symphonic music. Even though the demand for live-orchestra movies is high, Borda emphasizes the orchestra’s commitment to its classical repertoire. However, she recognizes the growing importance of live-orchestra movies in the American orchestral scene, providing audiences with a unique and engaging musical experience.
“That are integrated into the fabric of the community,” she said. “And so, we want the New York Philharmonic to be as popular as the New York Yankees or the Mets. And movies can help get us there.” The cellos tell you something is lurking underwater: The New York Philharmonic’s. For more info: New York Philharmonic New York Philharmonic’s “Art of the Score” concerts for 2025 Film Concerts Live “Harry Potter” film concert series “Lord of the Rings” in Concert CineConcerts Movies in Concert: Your Guide to film music performed live onstage IMG Artists: Films with Orchestra Story produced by Gabriel Falcon. Editor: Joseph Frandino. See also: Video: Composer John Williams (“Sunday Morning”) Video: “Lord of the Rings” plays Radio City Video: “Jaws” under the stars Nicholas Britell: Knowing the score (“Sunday Morning”) How scary music makes movies scarier (“Sunday Morning”) Tiger Bech’s family on his final moments after New Orleans attack Majority Leader John Thune says he’ll help Trump understand “what’s realistic” in the Senate Open: This is “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Jan. 5, 2025.
