A Magical, Musical Tour: Our Visit to “Harry Potter” in Concert!

Ah, music! A magic beyond all we do here!” – Albus Dumbledore.

The Harry Potter Film Concert Series for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was indeed magic, and much more. On Sunday, August 13, the Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco added another slot to its weekend performance, and we were able to attend.

The lights dimmed as the concertmaster and conductor each took to the stage amid appreciative applause, which lulled into silence when the conductor took up the microphone to introduce the show. He spoke about the brilliant score by John Williams and the amazing story by J.K. Rowling, but then he surprised us by encouraging audience participation. He called out the names of the Houses for us to cheer to show our House pride before telling us to cheer for our favorite characters and moments in the show and laugh when the characters brought us joy. As the crowd tittered with the residual excitement from supporting our Houses, the show began.

Though we attended different showings, we had almost identical experiences. Since neither of us had seen the earlier films in theaters when we were younger, seeing the first film on a giant screen was truly a treat that was made even better by the live orchestra. We both cried at least three times in the first act alone. The audience participation blew us away from the start as everyone got involved with whistling and applause when the music swelled and the Harry Potter title flashed on-screen. With each major character appearance, applause broke out, including some hissing for Quirrell! It made us feel like we were home among the fans who cherished the franchise as much as we did.

The aspect of the live orchestra accompanying the film truly made this an unforgettable experience. This film’s score holds a special place in our hearts because it’s where all of the main overarching musical themes for the series have their roots. Hearing it live opened our eyes to more of the score in the background and the minuscule details we hadn’t seen or heard before, like how they Mickey Moused the beats or how they used sleigh bells for a magical effect. True to form, each note was emphasized more heavily, and they were so good that we forgot it was live a few times.

Overall, our favorite part was becoming acutely aware of just how magical and beautiful the music is. There were instruments used that we hadn’t heard in prior listenings or viewings, and the music evoked more emotion as the film went on since we became more and more aware of how big of a role it played. For music lovers, this is a dream come true, and for Harry Potter fans, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

The Harry Potter Film Concert Series continues its tour internationally. To find one near you, click here!

Come see Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in concert with a live symphony orchestra playing John Williams’ unforgettable score while the movie plays on the big screen. Coming to: