CINEMA : SOUND – PATRICK DOYLE IN CONCERT
Music composed and conducted by Patrick Doyle
Choir director: Johannes Prinz
Performed by the Wiener Symphoniker and the Wiener Singverein
Concert master: Seina Matsuoka
Featured violinist on CORARSIK: Alexandra Tirsu
Featured soprano on SENSE AND SENSIBILITY: Katharina Melnikova
Featured tenor on HAMLET and HENRY V: Fabián Lara
Featured bagpipe player on BRAVE and SCOTTISH OVERTURE: Peter Dobiasch
Featured uilleann pipes player on BRAVE and SCOTTISH OVERTURE: Géza Frank
Featured Celtic whistle players on BRAVE and SCOTTISH OVERTURE: Karin Leitner and Veronika Vitazkova
Produced by Tomek Productions
January 29, 2026
Musikverein Wien
Vienna, Austria
PART 1: COMPOSED AND CONDUCTED
When it was announced that Patrick Doyle would be featured in the 2026 edition of Cinema : Sound, a concert series focusing on film music performed by the world-renowned Wiener Symphoniker and Wiener Singverein, something in the announcement immediately caught my eye:
Looking at past reports of concerts featuring Doyle, none of them have listed him as the main conductor. In fact, his concerts have always been conducted by famed conductors like Dirk Brosse and James Shearman, so to see him listed as the sole conductor for this concert made me immediately pounce on a concert ticket.
There really is no substitute to seeing a composer perform or conduct their own music – the whole experience feels infinitely more special as the composer is presenting their work exactly the way they want it to sound. And that is what made this concert such an unmissable event.
PART 2: OVERVIEW AND SET LIST
For this concert, Doyle conducted both individual pieces and suites from some of his most beloved scores including HENRY V – his very first feature film score – and the hugely popular HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE. Non-film works like the SCOTTISH OVERTURE and CORARSIK were also performed complete with Scottish and Irish pipe instruments as well as Celtic whistles.
The set list for the concert was as follows:
– FIRST HALF –
- Much Ado About Nothing – Overture
- Cinderella – Life and Laughter
- Cinderella – La valse de l’amour
- Cinderella – The Stag
- Cinderella – Pumpkin Pursuit
- Corarsik
- Bridget Jones’s Diary – It’s only a diary
- Hamlet – In Pace
- Hamlet – My Thoughts Be Bloody
- Henry V – St. Crispin’s Day
- Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – The Creation
- Eragon – Eragon
– SECOND HALF –
- Scottish Overture
- Sense and Sensibility – My Father’s Favourite
- Sense and Sensibility – Willoughby
- Sense and Sensibility – Weep You No More Sad Fountains
- Sense and Sensibility – Throw the Coins
- Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit – Faith of our Fathers
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – Opening Titles
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – The Quidditch World Cup
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – Potter Waltz
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – Harry in Winter
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – Death of Cedric
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – Hogwarts’ Hymn
- Brave – Fate and Destiny
- Brave – The Games
- Brave – Merida’s Home
- Henry V – Non Nobis Domine
– ENCORES –
- Much Ado About Nothing – Strike Up Pipers
- Thor – Earth to Asgard
Below are pictures from inside the concert program, which was written only in German:
I had hoped that Doyle would grace us with his vocals on “Non Nobis Domine” or even a solo piano performance of “La valse de l’amour” as an encore, but alas it was not to be. Maybe next time… please 🙂
PART 3: THE FIRST HALF
Much Ado About Nothing
– Overture
The evening got off to a sensational start with the joyous and triumphant “Overture” from MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. As this piece played in the magnificent hall of the Musikverein Wien, all I could think of was how fitting Doyle’s music was of the surroundings: it was elegant, rousing and full of classical beauty.
Cinderella
– Life and Laughter
– La valse de l’amour
– The Stag
– Pumpkin Pursuit
A suite from CINDERELLA came next starting with “Life and Laughter,” a delightful waltz played to perfection by the string section. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one in the audience who wanted to get up and politely ask the nearest girl for a dance!
Then came one of my all-time favourites by Doyle, the spellbinding “La valse de l’amour.” Hearing this live conducted by its composer was such an incredible treat – those strings swelling with amour as woodwinds and harp joined to heighten that dream-like feeling was nothing but magic.
“The Stag” received a suitably emotional performance before segueing into a rip-roaring action piece in that inimitable Doyle style.
The suite then ended with “Pumpkin Pursuit,” a frantic action extravaganza that had me smiling with glee as tubular bells tolled from the stage.
Corarsik
For Violin and Orchestra
Doyle next took to the microphone to explain that CORARSIK was composed as a birthday present for his dear friend Emma Thompson. He went on to note that this piece not only described her character, but also the four seasons – in one day (!) – of Scotland.
The piece can basically be broken up into three parts: first, the warm opening describing Thompson’s character; second, the middle part evoking the temperamental weather of Scotland; and finally, a welcome return to the gentle music portraying Thompson.
Bringing this piece to life was the sensational violinist Alexandra Tirsu, who I was hearing for the very first time. She absolutely nailed this piece, beautifully playing the opening and then effortlessly transitioning to the wilder moments of the piece.
My favourite part was towards the end as Tirsu first soloed on violin and was then joined by a lone flute and then French horn – it was such a beautiful and peaceful way to conclude the piece.
Bridget Jones’s Diary
– It’s only a diary
Music from BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY came next with a lovely performance of a piece that captures the trials and tribulations of the film’s titular character.
Hamlet
– In Pace
– My Thoughts Be Bloody
Things were now about to go up a few notches with a knockout performance of music from HAMLET thanks in large part to a stunning vocal performance from Mexican tenor, Fabián Lara.
Before the music was performed Doyle quickly shared a fascinating anecdote about the piece “In Pace”. The story goes that Doyle created a demo of “In Pace” which he sent to famed opera singer Placido Domingo in hopes of getting him to sing it. Weeks later, Doyle received a surprise call from Domingo who explained that he liked the piece but wanted Doyle to make his part lower at the top and higher at the bottom!
In any case, Lara’s take on “In Pace” was superlative on every level – even Doyle was visibly chuffed by the end of the piece.
The crowd-pleasing “My Thoughts Be Bloody” then received a stellar performance, climaxing with a gloriously heroic call-to-action.
Henry V
– St. Crispin’s Day
What a treat it was to hear music from Doyle’s very first feature film score live!
Endlessly building with hope and courage, I just couldn’t get enough of this rapturous piece.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
– The Creation
“The Creation” immediately set the hall of the Musikverein alight with killer music that just powered forward with the force of an unstoppable steam train. It was without doubt the most exciting action piece of the night – well, any night to be honest!
Eragon
– Eragon
The first half ended with the main theme from ERAGON, another winner from Doyle full of heroism and adventure.
There were some minor sync issues in the middle, but the orchestra later recovered for a rousing finish.
PART 4: THE SECOND HALF
Scottish Overture
Written by Doyle for the 2019 Celtic Connections Festival, the SCOTTISH OVERTURE is a piece bursting with national pride and character. Featuring bagpipes, uilleann pipes, Celtic whistles and some spirited violin solos by concertmaster Seina Matsuoka, it was a true joy to hear especially when the piece transitioned into a jig and then ended with the soloists and orchestra coming together to bring out the main melody in all its Scottish glory.
Amusing side note: when the piece ended, people who hadn’t made it back in time before the end of the intermission were finally let back into the hall. Upon seeing this from the podium, Doyle – in a hilariously funny look of mock anger – looked at them and pointed at his watch! It was one of many instances during the concert that Doyle showed his fun cheeky side 🙂
Sense and Sensibility
– My Father’s Favourite
– Willoughby
– Weep You No More Sad Fountains
– Throw the Coins
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY is my favourite Doyle score and I distinctly remember buying this score on CD using money I found liberated from my dad’s bedside drawer many years ago!
Needless to say, I was in complete and utter ecstasy during the entirety of this suite.
While it is true that some of the phrasing in “Throw the Coins” was different and the tempo for “My Father’s Favourite” was much slower than the original recording, that really didn’t matter – it was still wonderfully perfect.
And hot damn, “Weep You No More Sad Fountains” as performed by soprano Katharina Melnikova, was simply STUNNING. She imbued the piece with such heart and conviction that I just couldn’t look away through fear that I would lose something from this very special performance.
And concluding the piece was a new, but utterly gorgeous solo violin passage after Melnikova faded into silence… It was quite the moment, and one that I will never forget.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
– Faith of our Fathers
We were now treated to a powerful performance of “Faith of our Fathers.” Starting first with a solemn theme for orchestra, it then segued into a deeply religious-like a capella piece performed by the Weiner Singverein in Russian. It was incredibly stirring to say the least!
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
– Opening Titles
– The Quidditch World Cup
– Potter Waltz
– Harry in Winter
– Death of Cedric
– Hogwarts’ Hymn
It was now time for what many in the audience had been waiting for: the suite from HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE.
After explaining how daunting it was to be following in the footsteps of John Williams, Doyle took us through his exciting “Opening Titles” which included a deliciously ominous fragment of Williams’s original “Hedwig’s Theme.”
The festive “The Quidditch World Cup” came next with thunderous percussion, swirling strings and sharp calls from the male choir.
Then came the delightful “Potter Waltz” played with joyous passion by the orchestra who were clearly enjoying themselves during the piece.
The melancholy “Harry in Winter” followed with a twinkly percussive backing throughout. Truth be told, the twinkly sound was a bit overpowering at times, but nevertheless gave the piece an extra layer of magic.
“Death of Cedric” – now, who could forget this piece and scene in the film? Full of pain and sensitivity, it was beautifully performed the orchestra.
The suite then concluded with a faithful performance of the lovely “Hogwarts’ Hymn,” an optimistic piece that plays during the film’s end credits.
Amusing side note: During the rehearsal the day before the concert, the viola section left early for the day as the orchestra prepared to practice “The Quidditch World Cup.” As the piece does not contain any viola parts, I suspect the reason the viola section left early was to get home before the last train or bus. Whatever the reason, Doyle’s reaction was priceless: upon noticing that the entire viola section had disappeared, he raised his arm to smell his shirt thinking he was the reason they left!
Brave
– Fate and Destiny
– The Games
– Merida’s Home
The suite from BRAVE was represented with three orchestral pieces that featured who I refer to as the “Celtic Quartet” – Dobiasch and Frank on pipes, and Leitner and Vitazkova on Celtic whistles.
The music here was both boisterous and uplifting and featured one of Doyle’s most memorable heroic themes. Brave indeed!
Henry V
– Non Nobis Domine
While I was disappointed that Doyle did not provide the opening vocals for this piece as he did as an actor in the actual 1989 film, tenor Fabian Lara more than satisfied with his performance of that iconic opening.
With the male choir and orchestra soon joining, the piece slowly built into a tremendous climax that saw the female choir also join. And with that the piece steamed forward culminating in an ending with the most inspiring and almighty wall-of-sound from the choirs and orchestra you will ever hear – they truly blew the roof off the Musikverein!
PART 5: ENCORES!
After a lengthy standing ovation, Doyle was beckoned to the stage for one of two encores.
Much Ado About Nothing
– Strike Up Pipers
If “Non Nobis Domine” had blown the roof off the Musikverein, “Strike Up Pipers” brought the rest of the building down with every adjacent building along with it!
The interplay between the male and female choirs and the orchestra really was a sight and sound to behold – and for the first time, I could clearly hear the glockenspiel parts which added immeasurably to the joyous mood of the piece.
Thor
– Earth to Asgard
“Earth to Asgard” then received an appropriately heroic performance as the final encore for the night. The first part of the piece is very much in the mold of the “Hans Zimmer” school of film scoring, but about halfway through the tone clearly shifts and you can hear a classic Doyle “hero” theme shining through and through.
And that capped off a spectacular night with Patrick Doyle at the Musikverein!
PART 6: VIP TICKETS
For the princely sum of 139 euro, you were able to get a special VIP ticket (concert tickets were separate) which gave you the following:
- Admission to a special “Meet & Greet” event with Patrick Doyle
- One large concert poster
- One mini concert poster with identical design
- A concert program
- An opportunity to have up to two items signed by Patrick Doyle
- A photo with the great man himself
- Access to a pre-concert rehearsal the day before the concert
While I was quite nervous when it came my turn to meet Doyle, I was immediately put at ease by his friendly personality and openness. I asked him if he would be singing or performing piano solo at the concert to which he laughed and said in that loveable Scottish accent, “nooo!”
In any case, he happily signed my CD cover jacket for SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (which I had tried to get signed when I last met him at his Glasgow concert, but couldn’t because it was raining and quite windy!) as well as the mini concert poster.
I had the cover jackets for UNE FEMME FRANCAISE and CINDERELLA with me, but alas, the organizers set a two-item limit. Until next time!
PART 7: OVER TO YOU
Did you go to this concert too? How did you like it?
And what did you think of my report? Feel free to comment below or reach out to me directly in the “Contact Me” section.
