RSNO Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Usher Hall Edinburgh 19th September 2025 Review
image © Lucasfilm/Disney
RSNO – Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back at the Usher Hall Edinburgh tonight was once again proof of just how popular the “RSNO at the Movies” concert series has become over the years with another sold out show.
It might surprise some people reading this review that the RSNO have a long history with both performing and recording film soundtracks. Tonight, that combination of an iconic film, a classic film score by John Williams, the RSNO and Robert Ziegler conducting was a perfect combination for this audience. These “RSNO at the Movies” concerts have become events for people of all ages with a nice warm and friendly atmosphere to the whole evening. The importance of getting young people, or people who otherwise might not think this is for them, into a concert hall to listen to music of any genre cannot be overestimated.
Film (and television) soundtracks are odd beasts insomuch that often, apart from the opening and closing scores, many people can watch something on screen, but somehow not be as aware of the music as the visuals on screen. That in part is due to the fact that the task of the soundtrack composer is often to accompany what is happening on screen and not to overshadow it. The “RSNO at the Movies” is an opportunity to correct this and not only bring the music more to the forefront, but to give audiences the opportunities to experience the soundtrack with everything that a large symphonic orchestra has to offer. There is for film/music lovers nothing that can replicate this live synchronisation of music and film.
Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back features a soundtrack by one of the great masters of this craft – John Williams and in the hands of Robert Zeigler, who has conducted so many live performance film/orchestra concerts over the years, every small detail of this music was brought to life tonight in perfect synchronisation with the film. It is also of course a tribute to the individual members of the RSNO that this, and other movie concerts in the programme this season will sound just like, well actually better than, being at a cinema. Watching and listening to the RSNO perform a soundtrack like this is a little bit like opening a box full of good surprises.
More movies to come this season of music include Ghostbusters, Home Alone, How To Train Your Dragon and Gladiator. The RSNO also begin their classical music season concerts in a few weeks too.
Reivew by Tom King © 2025
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
It might surprise some people reading this review that the RSNO have a long history with both performing and recording film soundtracks. Tonight, that combination of an iconic film, a classic film score by John Williams, the RSNO and Robert Ziegler conducting was a perfect combination for this audience. These “RSNO at the Movies” concerts have become events for people of all ages with a nice warm and friendly atmosphere to the whole evening. The importance of getting young people, or people who otherwise might not think this is for them, into a concert hall to listen to music of any genre cannot be overestimated.
Film (and television) soundtracks are odd beasts insomuch that often, apart from the opening and closing scores, many people can watch something on screen, but somehow not be as aware of the music as the visuals on screen. That in part is due to the fact that the task of the soundtrack composer is often to accompany what is happening on screen and not to overshadow it. The “RSNO at the Movies” is an opportunity to correct this and not only bring the music more to the forefront, but to give audiences the opportunities to experience the soundtrack with everything that a large symphonic orchestra has to offer. There is for film/music lovers nothing that can replicate this live synchronisation of music and film.
Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back features a soundtrack by one of the great masters of this craft – John Williams and in the hands of Robert Zeigler, who has conducted so many live performance film/orchestra concerts over the years, every small detail of this music was brought to life tonight in perfect synchronisation with the film. It is also of course a tribute to the individual members of the RSNO that this, and other movie concerts in the programme this season will sound just like, well actually better than, being at a cinema. Watching and listening to the RSNO perform a soundtrack like this is a little bit like opening a box full of good surprises.
More movies to come this season of music include Ghostbusters, Home Alone, How To Train Your Dragon and Gladiator. The RSNO also begin their classical music season concerts in a few weeks too.
Reivew by Tom King © 2025
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
Please note that unless requested by performers/pr/venues that this website no longer uses the "star rating" system on reviews.