Simply put, if you enjoy hearing sci-fi film & television music performed by a full orchestra – and if you have a particular fondness for Battlestar Galactica – you’ll want to be at the Warner Grand theater in San Pedro, California on October 24th…
To help celebrate composer Stu Philips’ upcoming 80th birthday, Southern California’s most lavish movie palace, the Warner Grand, is throwing a party! Great music is a must if you really want to make a party swing, so the theater’s house band will be busting out extended suites from some of Stu’s most popular work, including the scores of Knight Rider, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Battlestar Galactica.
In this case, the “house band” is the Golden State Pops Orchestra, and the band leader will be none other than Mr. Philips himself!
All being played live!
Thats right, ladies and gentlemen – if you just happen to be in beautiful downtown San Pedro (less than an hour from Los Angeles) on Saturday, October 24th at 8pm, you’ll get to hear music from the original Battlestar Galactica performed with a full orchestra conducted by Stu Philips.
Be still my beating heart!
And if that’s not enough to make your BSG-loving head put a crack in the ceiling, Stu will be joined by special guest Bear McCreary, on hand to conduct a brand new, extended version of the Galactica theme being written especially for this event (Bear’s keeping mum on what exactly to expect from his new composition, but he did say it will include musical elements of both series).
Be there with Bear!
There will be plenty of other surprises on hand that I don’t want to spoil, but I can’t help myself from spilling the beans on just one: Stu’s incorporating a female voice choir with the orchestra to help perform music from “War of the Gods!” Can you say “holy frak?”
In addition to the music of Stu Philips, the orchestra will round out the evening with selections from other fan favorites, including Star Trek.
If past experience be a fair sign of things to come, I can testify that this is going to be an incredible show. Last year, the Warner Grand hosted the GSPO for a night of Halloween-themed fantasy and horror movie music and it was easily the best night of live film music I’ve ever experienced (this year’s show is officially called Halloween Fright Night 7). First of all, the Warner Grand is a bona fide, art-deco, old-school movie palace, first opened to the public in 1931. It’s been renovated and restored and just being inside the place is worth the price of admission. It’s gorgeous to look at and the acoustics are wonderful.
Warner Grand Theater
The orchestra itself consists of professional, freelance musicians and while you may not have heard of the GSPO, last year they just blew me away with their passion and enthusiasm. This is a group of artists who play for the love of it and it showed. I’ve never seen an orchestra play with such… gusto.
And on top of that, as opposed to a show at the Hollywood Bowl or some other massive venue, the Warner Grand is fairly intimate. For last year’s show I was barely ten feet from the stage and I was overwhelmed by the sheer presence of the orchestra. This is how a concert should sound.
I know, I know, you’re waiting for the bad news – what are tickets selling for? Shows like this typically offer good seats well in excess of $100, but the max price for this show – including VIP tickets – is only $35 bucks.
So, if anyone reading this is from outside the Los Angeles area, you can afford to come!
Myself and I’m sure other BSG alumni will be on hand, so by all means make the trip and come help us celebrate Stu’s 80th in style. I’ve waited all my life for a chance to hear original series music played live, so expect to find me lining up early outside the theater in sleeping bag any day now…
CLICK HERE to go to the Warner Grand site’s listing for the show (Halloween Fright Night 7) and to buy tickets.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Golden State Pops Orchestra (they also have a link fot tix).
[UPDATE: Last year’s show did sell out, so I recommend getting tickets ASAFP. I think I’m the first one to announce the show, so VIP seats are probably still available. See you there!]
Darth Mojo 
I really want to come. I really do.
I can afford to pay for the concert tickets, but alas, I’m in the other side of the globe (namely, Indonesia) and cannot afford the travel expenses.
Another time, perhaps.
This sounds great. Bear McCreary has already done a version of the original BSG theme; it is called “Colonial Anthem” and is on the OST for Season 1. It does modify the original theme so that it has elements from both series.
Maybe Bear has some new variation cooked up for the concert.
Bear also pulled out the stops on Season 4’s “Heart of the Sun” which I gather will be the basis of the piece he will be doing at the concert from his comments on his blog.
Virtually the entire Season 4 OST is amazing. Heart of the Sun is great. I actually like Kara Remembers and Gaeta’s Lament, both of which sound better on the soundtrack than they did in the show.
Hope they got a chance to perform here in our country particularly in ASIA PACIFIC. I love sci-fi movies and I will definitely come to their concert.
hey the wone on the left I have seen him befor?
i hope someone can youtube/mp3 this.
Any chance this will be made available on iTunes, ScyFy network, Amazo etc?