Settling the Score: David Arnold versus Michael Giacchino (2019)

SETTLING THE SCORE: DAVID ARNOLD VERSUS MICHAEL GIACCHINO
Music composed by David Arnold and Michael Giacchino
Conducted by Gavin Greenaway
Performed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra
Special guests: Matt Reeves, Neil Gaiman, Colin Trevorrow and Lewis MacLeod
October 18, 2019
Royal Albert Hall
London, England

PART 1: GET READY TO RUMBLE

“And now, for the thousands in attendance, and the millions longing to hear this music around the world: ladies and gentlemen, let’s get ready to rumble!!!!!”

SETTLING THE SCORE: DAVID ARNOLD VERSUS MICHAEL GIACCHINO was the event, and the Royal Albert Hall was their arena.

After months of friendly jabs and playful bickering on Twitter and in publicity interviews, David Arnold and Michael Giacchino finally took to the stage for the first ever film composer deathmatch!

The tone of the evening was immediately evident as soon as you walked into the hall – life-sized standees of the contenders, in poses showing off their ridiculously buff and chiseled bodies, were proudly showcased on stage.

The light-hearted atmosphere was further evidenced when Arnold and Giacchino finally graced the stage in boxing robes and pretended to spar.

Whatever the outcome, we all knew we were in for a fun and wild night.

To allow the concert to play out like a boxing match, popular scores from each composer were performed and paired according to a connecting theme – there was music for spies, monsters, Benedict Cumberbatch, space battles, national sporting and historical events, and more.

And between each pairing was some amusing cosplay by the composers and a few words from very special guests including Matt Reeves, Neil Gaiman and Colin Trevorrow.

This gave the evening a fun and casual vibe, and paired with the music that night, made for a highly enjoyable and memorable evening for all.

PART 2: THE FIGHT BEGINS

The evening kicked off with some smoking spy music under the trusty baton of prolific conductor Gavin Greenaway.

Arnold’s “Come in 007, Your Time is Up” from THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH was a fantastic and fresh arrangement for orchestra. Although I was used to the techno-heavy version on the original soundtrack, this orchestral arrangement was superb! The sassy trumpets, the driving drum kit line, and the iconic strains of the Bond theme raised the audience excitement level to 11. The only thing missing was Arnold in a tux on stage firing shots at Giacchino with a toy Walther PPK!

A dazzling suite from Giacchino’s THE INCREDIBLES 2 came next complete with Bondian brass and a rhythmic percussion section. Moving from orchestral music to big band jazz to swing, it was an exciting and energizing piece. The menacing villain music wasn’t bad either!

Matt Reeves, director of CLOVERFIELD and DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, then came out on stage to talk about his work with Giacchino. It is then that he threw us all a curve ball: he got on one knee and “proposed” to Giacchino, asking if he would score his next film, THE BATMAN. He graciously accepted to the wild applause and approval of the audience.

After a fine performance of the theme from Arnold’s GODZILLA, we were treated to a foot-stamping performance of “Roar!” from CLOVERFIELD. Still unreleased on CD as of writing, this piece is right up there with my favorite tracks of all time.

Opening with a hypnotic percussion figure, it perfectly built up a picture of impending doom. A pre-recorded* choir added to the mood before a thunderous rendition of the main theme. This was followed by a moment of beauty, the calm before the storm. After building into euphoria, it returned to the impending doom theme for a rapturous finish.

*I think it was pre-recorded – I don’t recall seeing a choir on the night

The Benedict Cumberbatch pairing came next with a suite of music from SHERLOCK and the main theme from DOCTOR STRANGE.

While I had never watched more than a few episodes of SHERLOCK up until that point, I had always liked Arnold’s theme, and the night’s performance perfectly captured its cool, rock-like vibe.

Starting with the theme on synthesized harpsichord (?), DOCTOR STRANGE immediately made an impact with this fine orchestral arrangement led by brass and percussion. The piece would have been perfect if the psychedelic synth and guitar parts from the original soundtrack recording were carried over (next time please 😊)

Prior to a performance of music from the 2012 London Olympics and the 60th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, a very special guest took to the stage: (fake) Boris Johnson, a.k.a. Lewis MacLeod! After entertaining the crowd with a spot-on impression of Bojo, we were then treated to a gorgeous orchestral arrangement of “Medal Ceremony,” Arnold’s music for the Olympics.

This beautiful orchestral arrangement – minus the synths that are on the CD release – really allowed this uplifting anthem-like theme to shine. It had definite shades of John Barry and focused on what it felt like to win a medal on a deeply personal level.

(Fake) Donald Trump, a.k.a. Lewis MacLeod, then crashed the stage and entertained the audience with his tall stories and delusions.

The mood changed as Giacchino’s “Voyage” started to play. It was a stirring, triumphant and driving piece for brass and percussion that built up to a huge climax. The music then painted pictures of space itself with slow, floating and heavenly music for high strings. It ended with another massive and highly satisfying climax.

The much anticipated sci-fi music pairing came next with suites from STARGATE and ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY.

STARGATE immediately impressed with its iconic and epic theme. Memories of seeing this in theatres immediately came flooding back, and I’m certain I wasn’t the only one in the audience with a huge smile on my face.

Giacchino’s masterful score for ROGUE ONE was played next. Starting with the emotive solo violin and flute opening of the “Jyn Erso & Hope Suite,” it then segued into the commanding “The Imperial Suite.” This was followed by the reverent “Guardians of the Whills Suite” and the return of the emotional solo violin theme from “Hope.” The orchestra then rose to a huge crescendo to conclude the suite.

Music from GOOD OMENS and SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME followed with exciting performances from the orchestra. Arnold’s “Opening Titles” from GOOD OMENS sounds like something Nino Rota would write if he were alive today – it was a fun piece full of whimsy and charm.

It was now time for the contenders to bring out the big guns with their most beloved themes: “You Know My Name” from CASINO ROYALE, and “Married Life” from UP. Even if they’d only played these for the night, I would have been totally satisfied.

“You Know My Name” was a finely orchestrated instrumental with strings, brass, and electric guitar taking the lead with the main theme in turns. To be honest, it was a shame that Arnold didn’t come on stage to lend his smooth as velvet vocals for his most iconic composition because I’m certain it would have brought the house down. At the same time, it was totally understandable because Giacchino couldn’t match it with a vocal performance of one of his own themes.

Instead, Giacchino pulled out a joker with his magnum opus, the main theme from his Oscar-winning score to UP.

“Perfect” is really the only word that can be used to describe the piece, “Married Life.” When the first piano solo appeared, the one that underscores “that” moment in the film’s iconic montage, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. The music then returned to a whimsical arrangement of the theme before ending with its final and most heartbreaking statement of the theme on solo piano. As the final notes played into silence, the audience too remained silent, paralyzed by what they had just heard and felt. Only the sounds of throats being cleared and people sniffling broke the collective state of emotional paralysis we were in. What a moment…

After such a heavy assault on our emotions, it was time to lighten the mood, and both composers did just that by coming out on stage in full costume: Giacchino was dressed as a flight officer from STAR TREK, and Arnold was decked out in a pilot jumpsuit from INDEPENDENCE DAY.

Enormously entertaining suites were then performed from both films to loud applause from the audience. During the wildly patriotic INDEPENDENCE DAY suite, I remember wanting to stand up on my seat and chant “USA! USA! USA!” Alas, I was there with a friend and didn’t want to embarrass him…

My long-held dream of hearing David Arnold sing live for the first time came true when we were then treated to two special vocal performances that were not listed on the concert program.

Arnold went to the piano and performed a stunningly beautiful vocal of “We Nearly Had it All” from his stage musical, MADE IN DAGENHAM. As this musical had only played in the UK, it was my first time hearing it.

I was immediately taken aback by not only the touching melody and poignant lyrics, but also Arnold’s rich and deeply sincere singing voice. I’d heard before that Arnold had a good singing voice, but I didn’t expect it to be this good.

As soon as he finished performing the song, Giacchino got on stage and stated that he “couldn’t possibly do something that moving.” While it was true that he couldn’t match Arnold’s singing voice, he more than made up for it with a fun crowd-pleasing piece to end the evening: a Star Wars sea shanty!

After getting the audience’s agreement to sing along, Giacchino got us to practice the refrain that we would be singing:

Way hay the force is rising,
Way hay the force is rising,
Way hay the force is rising,
Early in the morning!

Giacchino led the song on vocals and ukulele, with Lewis MacLeod providing supporting vocals and Arnold on acoustic guitar. It was a rollicking piece and perfect way to cap off a most amazing evening!

But that wasn’t the end of it, as it hadn’t been decided who won the night’s battle: Arnold or Giacchino?

It was a foregone conclusion that THE AUDIENCE was the real winner that night.

In any case, Arnold and Giacchino were both awarded giant cardboard trophies which they proudly showed off to the audience.

It was a fantastic end to the concert and strong cause for celebration as not a single drop of blood was spilled all night!

PART 3: OFFICIAL CONCERT PHOTOS

Not long after the concert, the Royal Albert Hall released some official photos from the concert which you can find here.

PART 4: OTHER REVIEWS

Here are some other reviews of the concert:

• David Arnold Vs Michael Giacchino: Settling The Score review [Live at the Royal Albert Hall] – Critical popcorn
• Settling the Score: a night with David Arnold and Michael Giacchino – The Boar

And here is my review of David Arnold live in concert in 2023.

PART 5: OVER TO YOU

Did you also go to this concert? 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.