There have been many attempts to try to make the cinematic experience more and more immersive. We’ve seen the rise and fall of 3D glasses, the injection of smoke machines and special lighting effects, and now deluxe recliner chairs. However, the trend that looks to truly be clicking as an enhancement to the experience is adding a live orchestra.

Naturally, the orchestra has to suit the films being played – which will need a score as opposed to a series of pop songs – but it adds another layer to watching the film. Already, CineConcerts has gone to 518 venues in 28 countries to dazzle over 6.2 million people. It’s quite the out-there concept, so they had to hit the ground running – which is why The Godfather took centre stage.

An Icon of Cinema

The Godfather is among a handful of films that are consistently selected among the greatest films of all time across all entertainment outlets. It’s a superbly engaging, well-written, and well-realised story of a crime family’s patriarch passing the crown to a reluctant heir. The film made in the 70s remains instantly recognisable and very popular.

Carrying such a massive amount of appeal, new concepts do well to borrow from its prestige. It’s why the newer concept of Slingo has released a new game of Slingo The Godfather to the collection of instant win games online. The official game runs the slots and bingo formula within the setting and with elements of the iconic soundtrack.

In this way, The Godfather was the perfect pick for the new concept of concerts combined with cinema. CineConcerts enjoyed a very successful and long run of showing The Godfather, performing Nino Rota’s score while the film plays above the orchestra. Its success on tour paved the way for several other CineConcerts to come.

Bringing Great Soundtracks to Life

The Godfather has been the headline act of this trend in cinema. In September last year, it was shown at the Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air in Turkey. By January, it was put on over a two-night experience at the Bradley Symphony Center – this time by conductor Ryan Tani of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. It’s a very clear concept to run.

Venues, naturally, need some adjustment to fit both the big screen and the orchestra, but there are plenty of open-top and closed arenas that can make space for the whole experience. This is shown by the current schedule for the CineConcerts-branded shows with tickets up for grabs. At the time of writing, 72 shows were booked.

The focus of these right now is Gladiator and the Harry Potter films. The orchestra and film experiences are landing in Scotland, Hawaii, Australia, New York, California, Virginia, Texas, Belgium, Missouri, Denmark, London, Canada, and Singapore through to October.

Demonstrating the range and focus on top-tier films is the list of other shows that have been put on by the brand. These include Breakfast at Tiffany’s, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Star Trek. Of course, there’s also space for more contemporary, popular films, like Elf, The Polar Express, and the DreamWorks collection.

Bringing together the concert experience with excellent films is creating a unique draw that’s proving popular around the world.