Cinematic: The Wonders of Animation was a wondrous evening where concertgoers alike were able to relive moments of childhood joy not known at the time to be embedded into hearts and minds for years to come or perhaps experience these musical motifs for the very first time.

The yearly Cinematic showcase marks a special occasion for Queensland Symphony Orchestra audiences to celebrate the stories and characters we all know and love and provide an excuse to get frocked up for an evening at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and perhaps enjoy a bite to eat at the Russell Street Wine Bar. No matter how near or far you travelled to attend the show and see for yourself, once you left the Concert Hall you would not feel like you missed one of the greatest musical events to pay homage to animated film heroes this year.

Bringing the beloved visual magic of animated film scores to life, the performance celebrated iconic soundtracks spanning decades of cinema, from timeless Disney classics to modern Pixar and DreamWorks masterpieces. The sheer visual creativity on display matched the music step for step. Each and every one of the musicians showed off their best outfits after raiding the costume stores on stage to represent their favourite animated hero and offer another way for the audience to make a connection between the musicians and the music. From Buzz Lightyear with a purple wig, Barbie, Toothless with smoke coming out of their wings and a giant mascot head for Carl Fredricksen… how does one read the musical notation with this on their head? There was no screen projection; relying entirely on the visual of musicians in costume and the power of the music being played left us with the impression that imagination alone could bring these animated worlds to life.

Nicholas Buc kept the crowd informed every step of the way and sprinkled tid bits of trivia to connect the dots between the pieces and create an overall theme and overarching narrative. Buc is one of those conductors that you have to see live to understand what all the fuss is about as he is multi-talented and entertaining in his own right! As he understands the process of crafting the composition and the labour behind the aural symmetry coming from his own experience as a composer for film and television and the concert hall.

Jess Hitchcock proves to be a dazzling sight in a sparkly sequined dress and takes centre stage to show off her vocal prowess with classic hits such as Colours of the Wind with musical notes fluttering as soft as a feather. Hitchcock adds an evocative layer to the performance with her vocals echoing the concert halls and piercing audiences hearts with the Frozen hit Let It Go and misting the audience’s eyes with Can You Feel The Love Tonight from The Lion King. The Queensland Symphony Orchestra has once again made a lasting impression on Brisbane audiences who will be eagerly returning next year for another round of Cinematic marvelry.

Words: Joanna Letic

Imagery: Jonathan Almada