Movie Paradiso

Ipohites were presented with a rare treat when Kinta Valley Symphonic Society (KVSS)’s Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra (KVWO) invited the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)’s String Orchestra to join forces to give us an afternoon of music from the movies. This annual concert by KVWO was aptly titled, Movie Paradiso. Paradiso means paradise in Italian and Tagalog.

Opening the show was the piece ‘Movie Spectacular’, arranged by Jay Bocook, with a full orchestra which comprised members from both KVWO and klpac String Orchestra (violin, viola, cello & double bass). Conducted by Norman Ong, it set the tone for the almost two hours of orchestral movie theme songs to come. Following it were highlights from Harry Porter.

Conductor Norman Ong (L) with emcee Tan Tihn Chern

After that, it was time for the String Orchestra to take to the stage, enthralling the audience one soundtrack at a time: Star Trek theme, highlights from The Greatest Showman, The Chronicles of Narnia, Music from Brave, as well as Alice in Wonderland.

While the musicians from klpac’s String Orchestra took a break, it was time for KVWO to show their mettle with their wind instruments, and that Perakian musicians could match their guests from the capital city, note for note.

On their playlist were The Lion King, highlights from Spirited Away, How to Train Your Dragon, Beauty & The Beast medley, and selections from Les Misérables.

To the enchantment of the audience, the two orchestras combined for the final few tracks, closing with music from Frozen. Obviously, fans of movie music refused to allow the enjoyment to end just like that, so they chanted for an encore not once, not twice, but three times!

KVSS President Timothy Tan (centre) with sponsors of the event

Conductor Norman Ong pulled a little surprise with his solo on the flute in Cinema Paradiso, before wrapping up the orchestral extravaganza with The Polar Express, for an advanced Christmas greeting.

The showcase took movie lovers down memory lane to some of the best film productions of our time. As the music played on, the movies were projected in the background, leading us along on the journey of imagination.

Video: Medley of Shanghai Bund, Frozen, Cinema Paradiso & The Polar Express