Over the past decade, the Royal Albert Hall’s Films in Concert series has made its way through all the Harry Potter films.
And last night marked the grand finale with the fifth and final performance of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in concert.
Oscar-winner Alexandre Desplat’s score, including John Williams’ original themes, was brought to life by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the English Chamber Choir.
Upon the 2011 film’s release, the composer admitted scoring Part 2 was “a great challenge”, but he clearly excelled with the final product.
This magical treat opened with Lily’s Theme as the orchestra and a female soloist introduced the weariness of the Second Wizarding War.
Moments of quiet tension, like breaking into Gringotts for a heist, are soon followed by the fast-paced battle sequences made all the more epic by a live score. A real highlight, and a particularly emotional one, is when Harry watches Snape’s memories and learns that he was a double agent who had actually loved him “always”. After a climactic final duel between Harry and Voldemort, the audience is treated to Williams’ twinkly and iconic Hedwig’s Theme from where it all began a decade prior.
Aside from the music, it was a particularly bittersweet watch given how many of the main actors have since died, from Michael Gambon and Alan Rickman to Robbie Coltrane and, most recently, Dame Maggie Smith. In fact, an “in memory” placard for her appeared at the end, which was met with thunderous applause, concluding this enchanting event.
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