The films were selected to celebrate the illustrious career of composer John Williams. His cinematic contributions range from Jurassic Park to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and will be celebrated accordingly: with a gargantuan 30-foot HD screen in the Royal Albert Hall Auditorium.
Williams has won four Golden Globes and five Oscars, and his record of 51 Academy Award nominations has only been surpassed by Walt Disney. The 86-year-old maestro himself will take centre stage, with a special appearance conducting the London Symphony Orchestra.
Lucy Noble, Artistic Director at the Royal Albert Hall, said: '[Williams'] music has been the soundtrack not just to our favourite films, but to our lives, and this rare performance with the London Symphony Orchestra promises to be one of those special nights in our history: a unique chance to see a genius in the flesh, presenting unforgettable highlights from his incomparable career.'
Check out some of those highlights below:
Win free tickets by ordering in Klingon
Ongoing
Trekkies, rejoice: your Klingon lessons have paid off big time. The Royal Albert Hall takes their Star Trek screenings so seriously, they're giving away free tickets to anyone who orders in Klingon. The box office staff are practically bilingual after taking a crash course with leading Klingon linguistic expert Alex Greene – so you'd better study your semantics make sure your syntax is up to scratch. The films are the centrepiece of the Hall's upcoming Festival of Space, which is so far shaping up to be a sci-fi spectacular that's out of this world.
Click here for more information
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
27th - 29th April 2018
Starts at 1.00pm, 6.00pm and 7.00pm
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets carefully balances the heart-warming wholesomeness of the series' early films with some menacing monsters and thrilling wizarding trials. From Professor Lockhart's hilariously flamboyant bravado to the gripping final confrontation with the Basilisk, the movie offers laughs and chills in equal measure. The score, composed by John Williams, will be performed masterfully by the orchestra, bringing the enchanting world of Hogwarts to life in a beautiful and grand setting.
Star Trek
2 June 2018
Starts at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Star Trek, the cinematic reboot of the timeless television series, is bursting at the seams with action-packed thrills and stellar visuals. It covers the story of how the USS Enterprise crew assemble for the first time to embark on their unforgettable deep space adventures. A number of big names star in the production, including Simon Pegg, the loveable British comedian and co-star of the hilarious countryside crime-comedy, Hot Fuzz, and Chris Pine, also known for his role as Steve Trevor in feminist superhero hit, Wonder Woman. The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will be playing the score of Oscar-winning composer, Michael Giacchino, and die-hard fans will love the inclusion of the classic introductory theme tune from the original show.
Star Trek Beyond
3rd June 2018
Starts at 2.30pm
For those who can never quite quench their thirst for an epic sci-fi quest, there will be a screening of the third film from the revival, Star Trek Beyond, on the following day. This time, the line-up is even more star-studded, with Idris Elba thrown into the interstellar mix. In the deep recesses of space, the crew get ambushed by a merciless enemy, Krall, and have to survive on a savage and unfamiliar distant planet. Again, Michael Giacchino's score gives the action a greater sense of expansiveness and energy in a film that takes the franchise to new frontiers.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
14th June 2018
Starts at 7.30pm
Steven Spielberg's seminal work, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, is an eerie '70s classic about UFOs descending upon earth. Featuring surreal late night encounters, vanishing pilots and some mesmerising spaceships, the film has gone down in history as a genre-defining masterpiece in the realms of science fiction. John Williams' score is absolutely integral to the sense of wonder and mystery which made the movie a roaring success, earning it a nomination for Best Original Score among eight other Academy Awards. Performed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the English Chamber Choir, the screening is set to be out of this world.
The English Patient Live
18th October 2018
Starts at 6.30pm
As a harrowing exploration of how circumstances can tear love apart, The English Patient's universal appeal made it a crowd favourite among critics and casual viewers alike. It picked up nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Score, on account of its bone-achingly beautiful treatment of a WWII romance between Count László de Almásy (Ralph Fiennes) and Katharine Clifton (Kristin Scott Thomas). With the help of a synced rendition of Gabriel Yared's score, conducted by Ludwig Wicki, the film will be even more of a moving masterpiece.
An Evening with John Williams
26th October 2018
Starts at 7:30pm
One of the greatest composers of our generation, John Williams, will take to the hallowed Royal Albert Hall to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra in a one-off concert. Williams boasts a resume that resembles a list of timeless classics: from composing Star Wars scores to collaborations with Steven Spielberg on movies like Jaws, E. T., and Schindler’s List.
Tickets to see John Williams in concert go on sale Friday 16 February at 9am
What | Films in Concert, Royal Albert Hall |
Where | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP | MAP |
Nearest tube | South Kensington (underground) |
When |
27 Apr 18 – 18 Oct 18, times vary |
Price | £Prices vary |
Website | Click here to book and for more information |