PATRICK DOYLE’S MUSIC FROM THE MOVIES
Music composed by Patrick Doyle
Conducted by Dirk Brosse
Performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO)
Guests MCs: Richard E Grant and Peter Capaldi
November 18, 2023
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Glasgow, Scotland
PART 1: CONCERT REPORT
(this report was originally written on Nov. 18, 2023 – just after the concert)
Going into this concert, I knew I was in for a treat, but nothing could have prepared me for the incredible program, flawless performance from the orchestra, and enormous warmth and affection from the audience for Patrick Doyle and his music.
The night started off with “St Crispin’s Day” from HENRY V, one of the very first scores I heard from Doyle many, many years ago.
This was followed by a gorgeous performance of “My father’s favourite” from SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, which sounded just like the original recording. The piano parts were played so beautifully by Lynda Cochrane, the famed pianist of the RSNO. After the concert, I bumped into her coming out of the stage door and told her how much I love her piano solos in the re-recording of John Barry’s score to SOMEWHERE IN TIME, which was recorded some 25 years ago! She mentioned she was “much younger then, but I still am!” 😂
Then came a favorite of my wife and mine, “La valse de l’amour” from CINDERELLA, which was absolute perfection. Such a beautiful and timeless waltz that could surely melt even the coldest heart.
After a few other pieces came one of my personal favorites, “Remember me” from CARLITO’S WAY, a heartbreaking piece for strings underscoring the opening and closing moments of Brian de Palma’s masterful film.
Before the piece was played, celebrity MC for the night, Peter Capaldi, gave an amusing anecdote about the scoring of CARLITO’S WAY. Doyle went to the film set and got to talk with Al Pacino. While their conversation wasn’t anything to write home about, Capaldi’s Pacino impersonation had the crowd in stitches.
Another amusing anecdote was told about INDOCHINE, winner of the Academy Award for best foreign language film in 1992. Apparently, the director of the film came to visit Doyle’s studios at Shepparton Studios. On arrival in his office, the director noticed something odd in the background – a toy Fischer & Price tape recording deck for kids. Intrigued by the unusual object in the room, the director asked what it was. Doyle replied that he used the deck’s recording function to note musical ideas that popped into his head, and in fact many of the melodic ideas from INDOCHINE had been recorded on that very toy Fischer & Price recording deck which he had “liberated” from his kids!
The first half ended with the “King Charles III Coronation March,”which was written for the coronation in May. It was a great uplifting piece that perfectly brought the first half to a close.
The second half started with a bang with Doyle’s “Scottish Overture,”complete with bagpipes!! I normally run for the hills when I hear bagpipes, but Doyle wrote for them in a such a pleasant melodic way. Great stuff!
“Corarsik” was next, a gorgeous piece for solo violin written as a birthday gift for Doyle’s good friend, Emma Thompson. The music was meant to evoke the surroundings of Ardentinny, a Scottish area of land where Emma Thompson spent much of her childhood. The solo violin pieces here were stunning and performed so beautifully by the RSNO’s first violin.
Never did I think I would hear Doyle’s masterpiece, “The creation” from FRANKENSTEIN, but it was played with ghoulish perfection last night! This incrediby piece was just bursting with drive and aggression… I love it! And the timpanist sure got a workout during this piece – he was furiously banging away like a madman! This piece truly brought the house down. Incredible stuff!
Next was a stunning performance of the vocal theme, “Never forget”from MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, and this was delicately performed by Doyle’s daughter Nula Doyle. I’ll have to listen to it again (and again) on the plane home!
Then came something that all the Harry Potter fans had been waiting for (and which happened to be two of my favourite pieces): “Potter’s Waltz” and “Harry in winter” from HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE. Doyle is a master at writing a waltz and “Potter’s waltz”is right up there with his best. “Harry in winter,” a deeply melancholic piece depicting the loneliness of Potter, was perfectly played and I’m sure, had a few members of the audience in tears.
The encore for the night was the marvelously uplifting end credits (“Thor kills the destroyer”) from Marvel’s THOR. A perfect way to cap off a fantastic evening!
PART 2: MEETING PATRICK DOYLE
As always, a small crowd of people gathered outside the stage door after the concert. Mostly young girls with a handful of older guys (like me!). “Wow” I thought, Patrick Doyle has “young” fans. But it turns out they had all come to see Peter Capaldi! When Doyle finally came out, he was quietly being ushered away by his daughter Abigail. The handful of oldies loitering about politely approached him for a photo, as did I! Unfortunately, I couldn’t get him to sign my beloved SENSE AND SENSIBILITY album jacket as it was raining quite heavily with strong winds! No matter. I got to meet him, shake his hand and say happy 70th birthday!
A great way to end the night, and a perfect way to end my first trip to Scotland.
PART 3: CONCERT MERCH
The only merch available on the night was the program which sold for four Scottish pounds each:
PART 4: 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.