The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra celebrates Harry Potter with ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ in concert
The Harry Potter Film Concert Series is returning to the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, W.Va., with “‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ in Concert,” the third film in the “Harry Potter” series.
On Friday, Maestro John Devlin will conduct the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (WSO) in a live performance of the movie’s score while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen.
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and CineConcerts created the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, the only official global concert tour celebrating the “Harry Potter” films. Since the world premiere of “‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ in Concert” in 2016, more than 4.5 million people have attended one of the performances, which is scheduled to include over 3,000 shows across more than 48 countries worldwide.
“I cannot wait to turn the Capitol Theatre into Hogwarts for this exciting third installment of the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise,” says WSO Music Director John Devlin. “Our audience loved the first two ‘Harry Potter’ movies in concert, so I know from experience that hearing John Williams’ score performed live alongside the film will thrill our audiences and give them an entirely new way to experience this beloved story.”
In their third year at Hogwarts, Harry, Ron and Hermione meet escaped prisoner Sirius Black and learn to handle a half-horse/half-eagle Hippogriff, repel shape-shifting Boggarts and master the art of Divination. Harry must also withstand soul-sucking Dementors, outsmart a dangerous werewolf and deal with the truth about Sirius and his relationship to Harry and his parents.
The score by John Williams earned an Oscar nomination after the movie’s release in 2004.
Justin Freer, president of CineConcerts and producer/conductor of the Harry Potter Film Concert Series explained, “The Harry Potter film series is a once-in-a-lifetime cultural phenomenon that continues to delight millions of fans around the world. As we celebrate 25 years since audiences first discovered Hogwarts on the big screen, there is no better way to honor that legacy than experiencing this music performed live by a symphony orchestra, all while the beloved film is simultaneously projected onto the big screen. This is truly an unforgettable event.”
Brady Beaubien of CineConcerts and concert producer for the Harry Potter Film Concert Series added, “Twenty-five years later, the magic of ‘Harry Potter’ continues to unite generations of fans. Performing this incredible music live with the full film allows audiences to celebrate that legacy together in a way that simply isn’t possible at home.”
Showtime is at 7:30 p.m. For more information on the official Harry Potter Film Concert Series, go online to harrypotterinconcert.com. For more information on the Wheeling Symphony, go online to wheelingsymphony.com.