007’s voice in concert at the Royal Albert Hall: review

Tears-stricken faces stare fondly at James Bond producer Michael J. Wilson, seated in the royal box at the Royal Albert Hall, during a long standing ovation at the “The Sound of 007” concert. , he is the film.

Tuesday’s charity event in London’s biggest venue preceded the release of the feature-length documentary “The Sound of Bond” on October 5 on Amazon’s Prime Video (top Europe streaming executives were, unsurprisingly, in the adjacent box to Bond Guardians), and they don’t. Feel free to remind both Bond novices and seasoned veterans that the franchise is almost synonymous with some of the more iconic cinematic tracks.

The concert – part of a series of events marking the British spy’s 60th anniversary on screen – was produced and moderated by five-time Bond composer David Arnold, who was front and center throughout the evening, ripping it off with Hans Zimmer on an electric guitar or strap. The rock anthem “You Know My Name” from “Casino Royale” by late Soundgarden leader Chris Cornell. Arnold was musical director for the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony for Danny Boyle, but this – you could tell – was a night to enjoy.

Mrs. Shirley Bassey, who stunned the Royal Albert Hall at the BAFTA Film Awards in March, returned to start the party with Diamonds is Forever and Goldfinger. (Bassie was given a standing ovation by the audience before she even sang a note.) Other singers included original film stage artists Lulu and Garbage, who sang “The Man With the Golden Gun” and “The World Isn’t Enough,” respectively, and were given a standing ovation. by fans.

Other notables include Brit alumni and powerhouse singers Emma Linders, who ably managed Adele’s hit “Skyfall”, and Ella Air, who smashed both “License to Kill” and “Nobody Does It Better.” Deborah Ann Dyer, better known as Skin, also put her special praise on Paul McCartney’s Live and Let Die with impressive results. The performers were accompanied by the stunning Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra led by Nicholas Dodd, which saw many rejoice over the three minutes of “Come In 007” from “The World Is Not Enough”.

It’s baffling why the title track of Billie Eilish’s “No Time to Die” or even Sam Smith’s “writing on the wall” was deleted from “Specter,” but one can only assume that Arnold and his team were eager to honor the franchise’s 60-year-old films. such as “Thunderball” and “The Spy Who Loved Me” (both of which have had moving orchestral pieces) as well as more major entries in the past decade.

The evening also paid tribute to the late John Barry, who composed the original Bond song for the first film and wrote for 11 films. Don Black, lyricist of many Bond portraits and close friend of Barry, stunned audiences with memories of the sinister British composer, who once described writing “The Living Daylights” of the titular film with Norwegian A-ha to “playing table tennis with four pigs.”

“Our collaboration was like getting married,” Black said of his work with Barry. “And like a wonderful marriage, it was too short. Unfortunately for John and the others, you only live once.”

Over the course of three hours (including a 25-minute interval), “The Sound of 007” brilliantly reflected the diversity of the franchise’s music over six decades, which included everything from classical, funk and jazz, to rock and modern pop from the latest the movies. Each song, always so distinct from its period, transports us to another place and time, when we were different – when Bond was different. No wonder the artists consider it a great honor to be asked to write a song for a Bond movie: these tracks take lives of their own away from the movie, and in some cases, beyond the movie altogether. As Wilson and his co-pilot Barbara Broccoli now look forward to the next chapter of their legendary spy – who they propose to be a 30-year-old conscript – there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that the tunes will follow at a steady pace.

Supporting “The Sound of 007” Music Therapy Charity Concert Nordoff Robbins Foundation for theatrical and creative arts brit school.

“Sound of 007” Concert at Royal Albert Hall (October 4th)

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