Enthusiastic fans of the young wizard are in for a spellbinding treat as the New Mexico Philharmonic gears up to present “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” accompanied by live orchestral music in three enchanting performances this upcoming weekend.
This bewitching fusion of music and cinematic magic will unfold on Friday, September 15, at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, September 16, with matinee and evening performances at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively.
Under the baton of the accomplished conductor Ben Phelps, audiences are in for an immersive journey as they relive the enchantment of the entire film, projected in high-definition on an expansive 40-foot screen, while the New Mexico Philharmonic brings John Williams’ unforgettable score to life with a captivating live performance.
Described as “feisty” and “impressive” by the Los Angeles Times, Ben Phelps is a multi-talented conductor, percussionist, and composer who has spent the last eight years touring the world as an assistant conductor for “Lord of the Rings Live.” His extensive experience includes collaborations with esteemed orchestras and music festivals, such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra, among many others. Phelps’ upcoming schedule includes a complete presentation of “The Lord of the Rings Trilogy” over three nights with La Orquesta Sinfonica del Valles in Madrid, as well as performances of “Harry Potter Live in Concert” across the United States and Canada.
Reflecting on his journey, Phelps remarked, “For the past 10 years, I’ve long worked as an assistant conductor with one of the first big touring live-to-film concert productions, ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ This project helped to establish a new genre of concert music, the idea that you could perform an entire film score, with a live orchestra, in accompaniment of a complete picture. There were many technical kinks to work out in the process of how to do this in terms of the synchronization between music and picture.”
The musical genius of composer John Williams is on full display in this performance. Phelps highlighted, “There’s so much detail to the orchestration, too many exciting moments to count, from the mysterious to the terrifying. The music is actually incredibly challenging — the musicians will tell you this is one of the most difficult concerts they will play this year.”
In “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” the audience will journey with Harry as he discovers his magical lineage on his 11th birthday. Enrolled at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry immerses himself in the high-flying sport of Quidditch and faces thrilling challenges, all while confronting a Dark Wizard determined to end his life.
Justin Freer, president of CineConcerts and producer/conductor of the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, expressed, “The ‘Harry Potter’ film series is a once-in-a-lifetime cultural phenomenon that continues to delight millions of fans around the world. It is with great pleasure that we bring fans for the first time ever an opportunity to experience the award-winning music scores played live by a symphony orchestra, all while the beloved film is simultaneously projected onto the big screen. This is truly an unforgettable event.”
Since its inception in 2016, the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, a collaboration between CineConcerts and Warner Bros. Consumer Products, has taken audiences on a global journey celebrating the magical world of Harry Potter. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert” premiered in 2016, and since then, more than three million fans have reveled in this magical experience from The Wizarding World. The tour is set to encompass over 2,973 performances across more than 48 countries worldwide through 2025.
