by Warren M. Sherk
Reporting from London, October 29, 2011
The London Symphony Orchestra. Photograph by Alberto Venzago, courtesy of the London Symphony Orchestra.
The London Symphony Orchestra concert, “The Film Music of Dimitri Tiomkin,” at Barbican Hall on Thursday night was an overwhelming success. Many of the works on the program have been performed around the world, but never before in a single concert. The night was a crowning achievement for all those who spent countless hours putting it together
The remarkable musicians of the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Voices deserve unending applause for their welcome embrace of film music and for their attention to detail in their performance of Tiomkin’s music in concert.
Richard Kaufman is to be commended for his conducting, leadership, and unstinting determination to obtain the best possible performance of Dimitri Tiomkin’s music.
Richard Kaufman rehearses the LSO
Highlights of the evening included world concert premieres of “The Fall of Love” from The Fall of the Roman Empire and the “Theme” from Search for Paradise, as well as an arrangement of the “Theme” from Wild Is the Wind written for this concert by Nan Schwartz.
The stage at Barbican Hall
The music preparation of some of the concert works began in the 1980s. In recent years Patrick Russ has led the charge. Pat later commented to orchestrator Jeff Atmajian that he thought of orchestrator Christopher Palmer several times during the concert. Christopher was there at the beginning of this long journey of bringing Tiomkin’s music to the concert hall and to new recordings. Both Pat and Jeff worked here in London with Christopher in those early days. Daniel James Chan’s setting of the “Theme” from Land of the Pharaohs was commendable. Daniel is a young and talented composer from Los Angeles and enjoyed his week here in London. The last piece on the program, Search for Paradise, was arranged by Patrick Russ and Paul Henning. Having served as music proofreader for a number of the works performed, I was thrilled to have the privilege of being present to hear them. Music copyist Stephen Biagini’s Herculean job of creating thousands of pages of clean and error-free orchestral parts was much appreciated.
Concert program
The lavish and colorful concert program included a welcome by LSO Managing Director Kathryn McDowell, a concert introduction by Barbican Head of Cinema Robert Rider, and a composer profile and programme notes by Jim Brown. Download it from lso.co.uk/programmes. Before each work, Richard Kaufman briefly introduced the music. If the music had been bestowed an Oscar the appropriate Academy Award statuette was introduced until all four of Tiomkin’s awards graced the stage.
During the concert a clip from a 1950s television program featuring Tiomkin interviewed by actor Gig Young was shown. Seeing the composer and hearing his voice brought a personal touch to the evening. Tiomkin’s warm personality and sense of humor came through immediately.
Ambassador Khandogiy and Patrick Russ
Audience members traveled from afar: Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Russia, Scotland, and the United States were all represented. The Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom, Mr. Volodymyr Khandogiy was seated next to Patrick Russ. The Ambassador was honored to be invited to hear the works of the distinguished Ukrainian-born Tiomkin. As it turns out Mr. Khandogiy was born not far from Tiomkin’s birthplace in Kremenchuk.
Around the hall one could spot Jeff Atmajian, Film Score Monthly UK correspondent Tim Burden, London Voices director Terry Edwards, composers Guy Farley and Soren Hyldgaard, record producer James Fitzpatrick, filmmaker Claude Green, and Academy library archivist Howard Prouty. In addition to Olivia Tiomkin Douglas, there were a number of other Tiomkin relatives in attendance.
Slideshow played during the interval
During the interval, a large screen behind and above the orchestra was filled with images of Tiomkin. This was a Powerpoint slideshow I put together for the LSO that included some rare images of Tiomkin that were scanned from photographs provided by Olivia. These images and more will be coming to www.dimitritiomkin.com in the future.
Whitney Claire Kaufman sang the theme from the previously mentioned Wild Is the Wind. As she took her place on stage she projected a deep concentration which lasted until her first sung line at which point her face lit up with a bright smile and she had the audience in her hand. The song’s lingering pace, extended harmonies, and tight rhythm section brought a pleasant contrast to the evening’s fare.
“Thee I Love” from Friendly Persuasion, reverently arranged and orchestrated by Lee Holdridge, was performed as a duet by Whitney Claire Kaufman and Andrew Playfoot. Both experienced performers, they dazzled in their onstage portrayals as they expressed their love through the words of Paul Francis Webster. Earlier Andrew aced the song for Rawhide eliciting audience hoops and hollers inspired by the song’s concluding “Hee-yah.” His powerful voice is well-suited to Tiomkin’s Western songs as was apparent in both Rawhide and in his performance of “Do Not Forsake Me” from High Noon.
The concert concluded with a rousing sing-along of the Rawhide theme. Credit LSO Planning Director Sue Mallet for this inspired decision. Concertgoers left the hall with this memorable tune that capped an evening of memorable performances by the LSO.
After the concert, Olivia Tiomkin Douglas provided the orchestra, choir, and guests with drinks and snacks. This took place backstage, in an area that was recently renovated adjacent to the UBS Artist’s Bar to provide a lounge-like gathering area. The room and surrounding hallways were soon filled with excited conversation as the after-party got underway. Kathryn McDowell personally thanked Olivia for her generous support through the Volta Music Corporation.
Backstage with Dimitri Tiomkin's Academy Awards
At the end, people gathered around the conductor’s room for an up close view of Tiomkin’s four Academy Award statuettes which were soon packed away to be ready for future concerts.
The concert will be available from LSO Live.
The post-concert buzz has been wonderful. Check out the London Symphony Orchestra’s Facebook page for a variety of comments and reactions. It seems everyone had their own favorite work. It’s also gratifying to see the “Dimitri Tiomkin: Film Composer” video on Vimeo has surpassed 200 views. Thanks to LSO Digital Marketing Manager Jo Johnson for her concentrated efforts in the social media arena. And special thanks to Sue Mallet and Mario de Sa who have been there every step of the way.
On Wednesday, Sean Rafferty interviewed Olivia Tiomkin Douglas and Richard Kaufman for BBC Radio 3. Listen here.
Read the reviews.
Bachtrack.com by David Karlin
Framescourer
Posted October 29, 2011, with additions and corrections of October 30, 2011.