{"id":53809,"date":"2024-10-24T18:13:53","date_gmt":"2024-10-24T22:13:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/?p=53809"},"modified":"2024-10-24T18:13:53","modified_gmt":"2024-10-24T22:13:53","slug":"concert-review-organist-roger-sayers-interstellar-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/2024\/10\/concert-review-organist-roger-sayers-interstellar-10\/","title":{"rendered":"Concert Review: Organist Roger Sayer’s Interstellar 10<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

From a 4K Limited Collector’s Edition to upcoming theatrical re-release, Interstellar\u2019s<\/em> tenth anniversary has brought about a flurry of activity. One of the more unique permutations of renewed interest and celebration is organist Roger Sayer\u2019s Interstellar<\/em> 10 Concert Tour<\/strong>, presented in Canada by the Royal Canadian College of Organists.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As the organist featured on Interstellar\u2019s<\/em> soundtrack, there\u2019s no question that Sayer has the goods to bring Hans Zimmer\u2019s score to life. In Toronto, he is paired with an instrument equally up to the task: Metropolitan United\u2019s pipe organ is the largest instrument in Canada, featuring 8,333 pipes and 500 miles of wire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While the film\u2019s deluxe edition soundtrack runs a tad over 90 minutes, Sayer\u2019s Interstellar Suite<\/em> rightly condenses to a 30-minute highlights package. To begin the concert, Interstellar<\/em> 10\u2019s<\/strong> program features Richard Strauss\u2019s \u201cSunrise\u201d from Also sprach Zarathustra<\/em>, followed by three movements of Gustav Holst\u2019s The Planets<\/em>. Though these choices may be a little on the science fiction nose, one expects them to be appreciated by film aficionados and classical music fans alike.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Coming through Met\u2019s organ, the ferocity of \u201cMars\u201d and joy of \u201cJupiter\u201d are delightful. But it\u2019s in the sweetness of
\n\u201cVenus\u201d that Sayer\u2019s musicality shines, his soul laid to bare for an audience giving rapt attention. Sayer\u2019s arresting performance of Holst\u2019s second movement serves as prelude to some of the Interstellar Suite\u2019s<\/em> most memorable moments.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Interstellar<\/em><\/strong> 10 <\/strong>is augmented by a featurette \u2018Making of Interstellar<\/em> Soundtrack\u2019 screening, followed by both a facilitated and audience Q&A prior to intermission. The audience question-and-answer period showed Sayer to be a rather candid, knowledgeable and warm individual, a not unimportant factor for the performance of a score which sought to shirk off the trappings of genre and aim squarely at the heart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As explained by the organist, his Interstellar<\/em> arrangement is an attempt to bring six organ parts into one, given his inability to play six organs at once. The result is admirable, if at times an imperfect lock.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tracks such as \u201cCornfield Chase\u201d and the indomitable \u201cStay\u201d remain not just distinct but stirring, a reflection of the deft touch already showcased in \u201cVenus.\u201d One feels the organ ably capturing the spirit of those tracks, no small feat considering the soundtrack\u2019s ensemble features 34 strings, 24 woodwinds and four pianos.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There are limitations, however. Despite all the power of the organ and precision of the organist, \u201cMountains\u201d and especially \u201cNo Time for Caution\u201d don\u2019t quite hit the mark, lacking a prerequisite oomph and rousing intensity. Worry not, because Sayer\u2019s \u201cDetach\u201d and \u201cWhere We\u2019re Going\u201d bring the concert home with aplomb.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The musical experience is only enhanced by having such a gorgeous space in the Metropolitan United Church as its backdrop. As the Interstellar<\/em> score soars, <\/em>you can\u2019t help but move upward with the music, looking upon the beautiful stained-glass of the chancel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To know the Interstellar<\/em> score is to know how central the organ is within it. Through it, audience members are made to feel the weight and force of human aspiration, that, as Cooper says in the film\u2019s teaser, \u201c\u2026 our greatest accomplishments cannot be behind us, that our destiny lies above us.\u201d<\/a> Hans Zimmer uses the organ to evoke hope and horror, dread and destiny. From start to finish, it drives home each and every one of Interstellar\u2019s<\/em> emotional beats. As a result, the score is one still resonant and lauded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here, with Roger Sayer and the Interstellar<\/em> 10 Concert Tour<\/strong>, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience that heart of Hans Zimmer\u2019s score. For the cross-section of Christopher Nolan diehards, classical music patrons, and organ devotees, do not let this concert go gentle into that good night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From a 4K Limited Collector’s Edition to upcoming theatrical re-release, Interstellar\u2019s tenth anniversary has brought about a flurry of activity. One of the more unique permutations of renewed interest and celebration is organist Roger Sayer\u2019s Interstellar 10 Concert Tour, presented in Canada by the Royal Canadian College of Organists.   As the organist featured on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":53810,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[344,36],"tags":[425,554,2463,566,1124,6,394],"coauthors":[2462],"class_list":["post-53809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cinema","category-music","tag-classical-music","tag-concert-reviews","tag-film-scores","tag-music-reviews","tag-nolan","tag-reviews","tag-tours"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Interstellar-Poster-scaled.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":27702,"url":"https:\/\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/2014\/11\/interstellar\/","url_meta":{"origin":53809,"position":0},"title":"An Ambitious Mess: Interstellar","author":"Rachael Nisenkier","date":"11 November 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"There are moments of Interstellar that are outstanding. It is visually stunning. It has a breathtaking vision of space, grounded by actual astrophysics (theoretically, sort of), which gets writ large across a gritty film landscape that manages to evoke classic science fiction movies while also featuring stunning graphics. And the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cinema"","block_context":{"text":"Cinema","link":"https:\/\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/cinema\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/interstellar_a-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/interstellar_a-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/interstellar_a-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/interstellar_a-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30031,"url":"https:\/\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/2015\/04\/dvd-update-april\/","url_meta":{"origin":53809,"position":1},"title":"DVD Update: April","author":"Kelly Bedard","date":"28 April 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s time, once again, for the On DVD series\u00a0featuring new releases from Paramount\u00a0and Elevation Pictures. The Imitation Game (Elevation Pictures, March 31) The re-watch value on this Oscar-winning WWII thriller is high thanks to superb performances from the entire cast (led by Benedict Cumberbatch with a ton of key supporting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "TV"","block_context":{"text":"TV","link":"https:\/\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/tv\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Photo-on-2015-05-31-at-3.39-AM.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Photo-on-2015-05-31-at-3.39-AM.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Photo-on-2015-05-31-at-3.39-AM.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Photo-on-2015-05-31-at-3.39-AM.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46539,"url":"https:\/\/www.myentertainmentworld.ca\/2020\/02\/skyfall-in-concert-qa-with-conductor-evan-mitchell\/","url_meta":{"origin":53809,"position":2},"title":"Skyfall in Concert: Q&A with Conductor Evan Mitchell","author":"Amy Strizic","date":"04 February 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"James Bond returns to Toronto with Skyfall, 007 in Concert. The score will be performed by a live orchestra at the newly rebranded Meridian Hall on February 21st and 22nd, and the city is ready to embrace our favourite British Agent. 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