Williams’ music brought to life by RSNO in Perth Concert Hall

There might be people more familiar with the music of the Stars Wars series than the films themselves and equally there will be those who feel the music is a mere cog in the workings of cinema’s greatest sci-fi series.

If you are of the former persuasion, then Perth Concert Hall was the place to be. In fact, I’d go as far to say that if John Williams’ music had never been on your radar, you would have left a die-hard fan.

There is an inextinguishable link between Williams and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra with conductor Richard Kaufman the perfect middle man.

It’s quite a heady link too.

In fact, Williams holds the RSNO is such high regard that he gave them the chance to give the first performances outside the United States of his recently completed orchestration of The Last Jedi. Some accolade.

Sunday’s concert was a brilliant mix of huge brass-led, soul-stirring, roof-raising magnificence, countered by some marvellous moments of calmness and serenity.

The RSNO were out of the blocks in double-quick time as the main title from Star Wars Episode IV burst forth, followed immediately by the mysterious shimmering of Close Encounters.

There was also something unrelated to film music but still from the pen of Williams. To celebrate the orchestra’s 125th birthday, Kaufman introduced his variations on Happy Birthday. It was akin to the Young Persons’ Guide to the Orchestra with each section demonstrating the melody. Inventive and entertaining.

The hall was packed out and I found it was a totally different audience from the normal RSNO concert, with a decent proportion of youngsters. The next thing is to convince them that other RSNO concerts are just as enjoyable.