NSO Pops: 'Star Wars: A New Hope' @ the Kennedy Center

If you are wondering whether seeing a film (any film) with a live orchestra is fun, the answer is absolutely. Even if you have a great surround sound system at home or go to a movie theatre with an amazing sound design, a film with live orchestra can quickly surpass these experiences.

Sitting in a concert hall is an immersive event, especially when the film is "Star Wars." The John Williams' score is grandiose and iconic; it tells the story as much as the plot does. It is no wonder that it has won many awards. (The film was released in 1977 with the title "Star Wars," while during subsequent releases it was retitled "Episode IV" and "A New Hope.")

The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Pops conducted by Steven Reineke did a fantastic job. Being new to the Washington DC area, this was my first time seeing NSO Pops or Steven Reineke, and I came away impressed and charmed. "Star Wars" is a fun film, and these professionals brought a matching fun spirit. The evening opened with the orchestra playing the 20th Century Fox music as the logo came on screen. When it ended, Reineke turned around and laughingly smiled at the audience with a look that said "we are going to have fun together" and we did. The orchestra played the score wonderfully and with emotion. There were times that I forgot I was listening to an orchestra because I was engrossed in the film that they brought to life. Congratulations to all the performers.

The audience also added to the good cheer. They clapped and cheered for the dramatic entrances of Darth Vader and Han Solo, but the best audience members were the children in costumes. My favorite was a young girl dressed up as Rey (the Daisy Ridley character from "Star Wars: the Force Awakens"), with her belt holding little bottles of water instead of a light sabre. The costumed children were sprinkled throughout the audience, and it added to the light happy magic of the evening.

Ready for more "Star Wars"films with a live orchestra? You are in luck! During the 2018 - 2019 season, the NSO Pops will also be playing "The Empire Strikes Back" (Oct 23 - 25), "Return of the Jedi" (Jan. 22 - 24) and "The Force Awakens" (February 21- 23). If you want to be entertained by a few classic films and a great orchestra, go check one out.

The final performances of "NSO Pops: Star Wars: A New Hope," a film with live orchestra, play at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, September 14 and Saturday, September 15, 2018. For more information, visit the Kennedy Center website.