DAVID ARNOLD LIVE

And the concerts just keep rolling into town. It seems like there has been an absolute abundance of high profile and definitely high quality appearances by well-known orchestras and composers in the last 2 years and long may it continue. There is no doubt that these spectacles are a welcome addition to the concert halls and venues and the fact they sell out and invite an eclectic array of fans, industry professionals and curious celebrities shows that they wholeheartedly deserve the recognition and time invested in producing and hosting them.

On Sunday July 6th the Royal Festival Hall on the London Southbank played host to the latest composer concert installment with David Arnold making his UK debut with a varied and sinuous set list that offered the audience an opportunity to marvel in the many music wonders from Arnold’s repertoire. Unlike the numerous concerts that rely on concert going etiquette and formulaic approaches this was more like being invited to an intimate gig that just so happened to contain special guests, a 75 piece orchestra and the vocal talents of the Urban Voices Collective, oh and in the marvelous RFH!

Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting David Arnold knows that his wickedly dry and jovial nature puts you at ease immediately and he used this to perfection last night to entertain the masses and invite them into his world for a two hour musical ear-gasm. From his brilliantly timed ‘selfie’ introduction through to the periodic disappearances and standing ovations after the finale you could see why he is held in such high regard amongst his peers, fan base and the British music scene. It had been mooted earlier in the week that the audience would be in for some treats but these are not the words I would select in hindsight… we were given a plethora of interactive musical canvases that shifted with every new cue played.

Arnold (ably assisted by conductor Nicholas Dodd, Michael Price and singer David McAlmont) threw out a set list of musical joy as he tinkered away with his keyboards, guitars, amps, Mac and other highly technical looking paraphernalia. He fondly recounted stories of working on certain films and recalled particular conversations and times in his life that were special to him and the projects he was working on… really, who else could have shared the fact that the Main Theme came to him as he passed the Toddington services?

Opening and Closing themes featured heavily in the first half with a lush Last of the Dogmen cue, the suburban bliss of The Stepford Wives, finger-slapping Four Brothers and the gargantuan Godzilla being performed to rapturous applause. Non-film material slotted in easily including McAlmont blasting out a version of Bjorks Play Dead, the medal ceremony from London 2012 and the premiere of a song from his new musical Made in Dagenham. The 20 minute suite from Stargate (as Arnold stated “… the one that made some people stand up and look at me”) took the audience to the interval with pure percussive power, epic brass and tingling stringed melodies.

The second half saw a focus on Arnold’s work within the Bond franchise explored with McAlmont returning to the stage to perform ‘Surrender’ from Tomorrow Never Dies. Stories of speaking with John Barry and writing with Don Black showed how proud Arnold is to have been part of this cultural phenomenon. You can’t help but tap your feet and reminisce about your childhood when you hear a Bond theme! A selection of orchestral cues allowed the orchestra to live the energy (complete with a twirling Double Bass).

Arnold then introduced the audience to the Urban Voices Collective whom he worked with during the Olympics and they performed two beautifully mellow cues from the film Amazing Grace. There were numerous television personalities and musical peers in the audience and deep into the second half Mark Gatiss and Amanda Abbington took to the stage to introduce the work of David and Michael Price on Sherlock. A beautifully constructed suite encompassing the main themes that viewers and fans have come to love over the past three seasons built up into a frenzy as Price conducting whipped the orchestra into a frenzy akin to watching a whirling dervish. Again huge cheers and applause drowning out the thank you’s. There is something special to the Brits about Sherlock and it has been such a phenomena that you can see why the majority of the cast and crew were in the audience to enjoy it (including Watson himself; Martin Freeman). We can only hope that one day we are treated to a live screening of Sherlock with orchestral accompaniment… *hint hint cough cough*

Independence Day timpani, woodwinds and brass rang out loud and proud to close the show, complete with Arnold sneakily appearing above the choir to perform on the famous RFH pipe organ before an encore of the now toe-tapping iconic film theme of Dr. No was played by Arnold accompanied by Dodd’s orchestra. Perfectly planned, impeccably balanced, flawlessly executed and all in all an incredible show.

What last night did was give an overwhelming sense of satisfaction to the audience and to highlight the versatile nature, talent and musical legacy that David Arnold has given us. I can only hope this is something that many other have the opportunity to see and listen to as he is one of the finest in the business and worthy of ever bit of praise that comes his way after this London concert.

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