Experience 'Gladiator' Live at the Royal Albert Hall
12 July, 2013
UK PREMIERE
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA AND PHILHARMONIA CHORUS, conducted by JUSTIN FREER, music by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard
PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT: Following the recent announcements that the Royal Albert Hall will host Star Trek and Star Trek into Darkness - Live in Concert, the venue’s popular film and live orchestra series, celebrating classic motion pictures with their scores performed live on stage, has added another UK premiere for 2014. On 27 & 28 May 2014, the blockbuster hit of 2000, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, receives the live in concert treatment celebrating Scott’s sword and sandals epic and Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard’s sweeping score which is still as popular now as it was 13 years ago.
Fans both old and new of the Academy Award winning film, will experience the Philharmonia Orchestra and Philharmonia Chorus, conducted by Justin Freer, bring the dramatic score to life within the walls of the Royal Albert Hall, whilst the film is simultaneously shown in high definition on the big screen. It seems only fitting that this UK premiere should be held at the Royal Albert Hall. Opened in 1871, its circular structure with a central arena was modeled on ancient Roman ampitheatres and the Roman Coliseum itself, where the epic battle scenes of the film take place, making this the perfect setting for fans to truly experience this unique cinematic event.
Gladiator is a 2000 epic historical drama directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi, Richard Harris and Oliver Reed (in his last film role). Crowe portrays the fictional character, loyal Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed when the emperor's ambitious son, Commodus, murders his father and seizes the throne. Reduced to slavery, Maximus rises through the ranks of the gladiatorial arena to avenge the murder of his family and his emperor.
The film was a box office success, receiving positive reviews, and was credited with rekindling interest in the historical epic. The film was nominated for and won multiple awards, notably five Academy Awards in the 73rd Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe.
Jasper Hope, Chief Operating Officer at the Royal Albert Hall, said “What an incredible prospect to transport the arena of Ancient Rome’s Coliseum and the epic spectacle that is Gladiator to the stage of the Royal Albert Hall via an HD screening. Throw in one of the most popular movie soundtracks of all time performed live by 200 of London’s best musicians and even Commodus couldn’t fail but to give this a thumbs up”.
Justin Freer, President and Producer of CineConcerts, said, "It is with great pleasure and excitement that we are able to bring Gladiator and its masterpiece music score to the Royal Albert Hall. Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard have created a truly lasting musical work of art. Ridley Scott's vision is equally masterful and this film remains one of my favorites to this day. Reconstructing the score to present it live with the film in its entirety has been one of the extraordinary experiences in my career. I believe music for film is one of the most beautiful and important art forms that we as a people have had the pleasure to enjoy. That we are able to play only a small role in preserving and presenting this art in a live format is both humbling and exhilarating."
This event is part of the Royal Albert Hall’s series in celebrating classic films with live orchestra. Over 100,000 people have now enjoyed sold out performances at the Hall of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Matrix, the 50th Anniversary of West Side Story, Disney’s Fantasia, Singin’ in the Rain and the upcoming world premiere of Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton on 7 October and UK premieres of Pixar in Concert on 22 February 2014 and Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness on May 29th and 30th. The Hall looks to provide memorable visitor experiences for all and, as a charity, these own-promoted events form a part of its extensive public benefit remit.
Listings information:
Gladiator Live
Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 May 2014 at 7.30pm
Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP
Tickets £20 - £65 (booking fees apply)
Box Office 020 7589 8212
www.royalalberthall.com
For more information on CineConcerts please click here- www.cineconcerts.com
Tickets go on sale for Gladiator Live at 9am on July 12th from the Royal Albert Hall Box Office. Please note this film is rated 15.
For further information, please contact: Sean Carrigan, Media Partnerships and Press Executive, Royal Albert Hall: seanc@royalalberthall.com Tel: 020 7959 0531
NOTES TO EDITORS
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is the world’s most famous stage. Its breathtaking auditorium hosts over 370 shows a year by the world’s greatest artists. The magical atmosphere combined with inspired artists creates legendary events.
Opened in 1871 as part of Prince Albert’s vision for a centre for the Arts and Sciences, the Hall is a registered charity which operates without public funding, remaining true to his founding ambitions within a modern context. Extending the brand with 200 events outside the auditorium, the Hall has broadened its appeal to younger, diverse audiences whilst still engaging its existing customers.
The Hall also offers the Elgar Room, a state-of-the-art small-scale performance space which hosts performances of classical music, jazz and world music, comedy, dance and hush, a series of gigs for just signed bands throughout the year. In the main auditorium, it offers the Albert Sessions, an initiative that encourages up and coming acts to play at the Hall by offering reduced rental fees to promoters and lower
ticket prices to encourage younger audiences to visit the Hall. It also works extensively with schools, young people, disadvantaged groups and partners such as Music For Youth through its Education programme, reaching over 100,000 participants each year as part of its extensive public benefit remit. It has also been appointed by the Arts Council as one of the country’s regional music education hubs.
For more information, please visit www.royalalberthall.com
Registered charity number: 254543