Slideshow: The Lord of the Rings Symphony Brings Howard Shore's Music to Life at Symphony Hall

On April 19, more than 200 musicians from the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra and Chorus performed Howard Shore’s B.M. '69 '08H Lord of the Rings Symphony at Boston's Symphony Hall as part of Berklee's Signature Series.

April 27, 2017

On April 19, Symphony Hall resonated with the soundscapes of Middle-earth, as more than 200 musicians from the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra and Chorus performed Howard Shore’s B.M. '69 '08H Lord of the Rings Symphony from the trilogy of films from director Peter Jackson based on J. R. R. Tolkien's book trilogy. The six movements featured conductor Robert Boardman, soloist and assistant chair of the Voice Department Maureen McMullan, and children's chorus VOICES Boston.

Berklee President Roger H. Brown introduced the Signature Series concert, honoring Shore, who was present in the audience. Shore was met with thunderous applause as he stood and acknowledged the audience and musicians (the next day, the composer delivered a clinic, discussing his music and career with Berklee students).

The two-hour musical journey took the audience through the film trilogy, creating moments of nostalgia and awe via Shore's iconic themes as well as moments of high energy and tension through the dynamic performance of the musicians and singers.

Alison Plante, chair of Berklee's Film Scoring Department, noted that the concert was particularly significant for the students in her area: "Like them, Howard Shore was once a student at Berklee, so it is especially inspiring for them to see—or rather, hear—the places they might go."

Listen to Shore discuss the symphony in this podcast: