October 2011
London Symphony Orchestra celebrates Tiomkin

by Warren M. Sherk

The London Symphony Orchestra. Photograph by Alberto Venzago, courtesy of the London Symphony Orchestra.

The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) celebrates the music of Dimitri Tiomkin with several special events during the month of October. The centerpiece of this unique tribute will be a concert, “Symphonic Hollywood: The Music of Dimitri Tiomkin,” at the Barbican Hall in London on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

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Richard Kaufman will conduct music representing Tiomkin’s vast oeuvre, including the “Prologue” for The Guns of Navarone, the “Overture” from Cyrano de Bergerac, a suite of music from films directed by Alfred Hitchcock, as well as the theme from the American television series Rawhide. The program includes two world concert premieres. “I am so pleased that the London Symphony Orchestra has chosen to honor Dimitri with a program devoted solely to his film music,” says Olivia Tiomkin Douglas. “Dimitri called London home for many years and I’m sure he would be overjoyed that this city that he loved will reverberate with his music played by some of the finest musicians in the world on the evening of October 27.”

Richard Kaufman

Kaufman has championed Tiomkin’s music with orchestras around the world, including the Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, and numerous others. The result is an insight into and understanding of the composer’s music that is evident in performances. The conductor is excited about the London concert. “This is going to be a unique and exciting celebration of one of Hollywood’s greatest creators of film music. From the Westerns to the comedies to the dramas to the mysteries…the music of Dimitri Tiomkin will take the Barbican audience on a magnificent journey of varied musical styles and emotions that will make for an extraordinary night of great music. And to hear it played by the legendary London Symphony Orchestra…well, it just doesn’t get any better than that!”

The music for the concert was largely prepared by orchestrator Patrick Russ working in Los Angeles. A symphonic orchestrator specializing in film music and concert suites, Russ learned from some of the best—among them, composer Elmer Bernstein and orchestrator Christopher Palmer.

Patrick Russ

Russ is passionate about Tiomkin’s music: “It certainly deserves the attention it will receive from the LSO and Richard. Tiomkin brought such a high standard of professionalism to his work, which was always well crafted and thought out. There was so much excellent music to choose from for this concert. It was quite a challenge.”

The LSO has been recording and performing film music soundtracks for more than 75 years. Among the classic scores first recorded with the orchestra are Things to Come (1935, Arthur Bliss), Henry V (1944, William Walton), Star Wars (1977, John Williams), and both installations of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2010-2011, Alexandre Desplat).

Whitney Kaufman

Andrew Playfoot

The October 27 concert will also showcase several of his memorable songs, performed by vocalists Andrew Playfoot and Whitney Claire Kaufman. Playfoot has won acclaim for his starring roles in various West End musicals, and is a welcome regular in the recording studios of London as well as on television. Kaufman is an American singer and actress who was a member of the North American tour of the hit musical Mamma Mia! She is currently performing music from the films of Walt Disney with symphony orchestras throughout the U.S. and around the world.

The LSO concert will also feature the London Voices, a chorus heard in numerous recordings and in concert. This wonderful chorus can be heard on more than thirty soundtracks from such films as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.

Dimitri Tiomkin with one of his four Academy Award statuettes.

One of Hollywood’s most distinguished and best-loved film composers, Dimitri Tiomkin’s prolific career as a composer resulted in of some of the most celebrated and iconic film scores of the Golden Age. Over five consecutive decades, Tiomkin received nearly two dozen Academy Award nominations for score and song. Of these, he took home four Oscars. As the composer behind such memorable films as Lost Horizon, It’s a Wonderful Life, High Noon, and The Alamo, he enjoyed an enviable position in the American film industry, having written for both film and television, and writing songs in addition to scores.

For Tiomkin, who lived in London from 1969 to 1979, the city held special meaning. Throughout the 1960s he traveled to the city to record his film scores and soundtrack albums. The Sinfonia of London, the National Philharmonic, and other London-based groups were hired to record 55 Days at Peking, The Guns of Navarone, The Sundowners, and other scores.

More than just music

Barbican Poster Exhibit (1)In the Barbican mezzanine, concertgoers can peruse an exhibit of film poster art representing films scored by Tiomkin. The pieces were selected from among more than 1,000 posters and lobby cards devotedly collected by Olivia Tiomkin Douglas. Among the collection are numerous examples of European poster art created for the American releases. These limited edition and unique works often include stunning graphics and artwork created by local artists. “I assembled the collection over a number of years and was pleasantly surprised by both the quantity and quality of the posters and lobby cards.”

Alongside the posters will be a special pre-concert performance by young musicians from of the LSO Fusion Orchestra of music inspired by Tiomkin. The orchestra, comprised of students at St. Luke’s, plays entirely by ear—there’s no written music to limit the imagination of these kids. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear their take on Tiomkin’s theme from Rawhide. Rock’n and riff’n this one should bring down the house. The fun begins on the Barbican Freestage at 6:45 p.m.

An informative pre-concert talk from 6:15 to 6:45 will be lead by Neil Percy, LSO’s principal percussionist. Participating in the discussion will be orchestrator Patrick Russ, and conductor Richard Kaufman. Patrick Russ, an acknowledged expert in the music of Dimitri Tiomkin, has brought the music of Tiomkin together for this special concert and will share his special insight. Richard Kaufman will bring his own perspective as conductor to complete what will certainly be a delightful and exciting pre-concert chat. Be at the Barbican Hall at 6:15 for this special bonus.

Sue Mallet, the LSO director of planning, is spearheading an ambitious marketing campaign. Contact Dvora Lewis PR for press inquiries.

Find out what others are saying about the event.
The Arts Desk: The music man who kept them dogies rollin’: LSO celebrates the epic tunes of Dimitri Tiomkin

Close-Up (London): The London Symphony Orchestra Celebrates the Music of Hollywood Composer Dimitri Tiomkin

Hollywood Reporter: Oscar-Winning Composer Dimitri Tiomkin’s Work to Be Subject of Major U.K. Concert

Listen to an interview with Richard Kaufman speaking to Tim Burden of Film Score Monthly about the film music of Dimitri Tiomkin and working with the LSO.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/23235492″]

Dominic King interviewed Richard Kaufman on BBC Radio Kent on Monday, October 24. Go to the LSO Film Music week to listen.

Check out these related events.
LSO Discovery Friday lunchtime concert, October 14, 2011

LSO Discovery Family concert, October 16, 2011

Barbican Cinema showcases Tiomkin-Hitchcock films, October 23 and 30, 2011

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