The best film soundtracks are the ones that stay with us long after the credits roll. The music has the power to make us laugh, cry or tremble in fear. It’s able to elevate a scene, heighten our emotions and turn a good movie into a great one. It’s no surprise, then, that both cinephiles and music lovers are on the hunt for film score concerts in Auckland.
This season, Candlelight concerts in Auckland are bringing famous TV and movie soundtracks to life. From the iconic songs in Bridgerton to Joe Hisaishi and Studio Ghibli’s anime scores, these classical tributes showcase the beauty of movie music live amid a sea of twinkling candles.
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Featured Candlelight soundtrack concerts
Candlelight: Best of Joe Hisaishi
So iconic that just a few notes can instantly evoke a Studio Ghibli film, Joe Hisaishi’s compositions play a vital role in storytelling. His emotional, orchestral themes remain timeless and deeply nostalgic. Revisit some of your favourite on-screen worlds as a string quartet performs music from Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, and more.
All upcoming Candlelight soundtrack tribute concerts
Where to see live film score concerts in Auckland
Auckland is no stranger to hosting film soundtrack concerts. Throughout the year, Candlelight lights up venues such as Saint Mary’s Church and St Matthew-in-the-City Church to host evenings dedicated to a range of film composers like Ennio Morricone and Ludovico Einaudi, as well as famous TV and movie soundtracks. Other concerts around the city, including those led by the Auckland Concert Orchestra inside Auckland Town Hall, pay tribute to the songs in blockbuster movies as the movie plays on a big screen behind the musicians.
How do great soundtracks help storytelling in film?
Music in film helps set the scene without the need for dialogue. A composition with a fast tempo can convey tension and suspense, while a slower rhythm can indicate sadness or tranquility. As soon as you hear those two menacing notes speed up in Jaws, we know that danger is on fast approach. On the contrary, the main theme in The Godfather is slow and somber, reflecting the calculated and premeditated nature of how the families within the mafia operate.
A character’s deepest thoughts and innermost feelings can be reflected through a movie’s music. Take the Oscar-winning Moonlight for example. The movie’s theme is subtle, using light piano and soft string sounds to reflect the shyness of the protagonist ‘Little’ at a younger age. As Little grows up during the film, the score grows louder and grittier, as the character has become hardened by his traumatic life experiences.
A Fun Film Score Fact
The Lord of the Rings’ iconic scores include lyrics in Elvish, a fictional language created by J.R.R. Tolkien for the original novels written back in the 1930s and 40s.