David Arnold conducting ‘A Night at the Opera’ from Quantum of Solace #Bond

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David Arnold conducts ‘A Night At The Opera’ from Quantum of Solace at The Royal Albert Hall on the 14th May 2010.

David Arnold is performing his music in a series of ‘Live in concert’ orchestral concerts this year. More info on the concerts (and links to tickets) below.

“Q Travis McClain: Are there any specific instruments you try to find a way to use in your scores? If so, what are they and where would we notice where you’ve sneaked them in?

A David Arnold: I love the sounds of deep low strings… cellos, low violas and low violins… it’s a velvety rich dark sound, and alongside dark trombone chords and French horns gives you that foreboding but sensual Bond sound. I also love the sound of harp and alto flute. Most notably, all of these sounds are in “Night At The Opera” from QUANTUM OF SOLACE. The flute/harp combination is something John Barry made famous in his work for the Bond films that he scored.”
David Arnold and Don Black interviews: The Bond composer and the Bond lyricist answer your questions (10 November 2014) 007: Inside the world of James Bond

Dr Miguel Mera, writing in the journal Music, Sound, and the Moving Image in 2009, had this to say of David’s work on the Bond scores –

“David Arnold’s accomplishment in scoring the Bond films in recent years is due as much to his respectful acknowledgement of John Barry’s 1960s sound and Monty Norman’s original Bond theme, as to the new elements brought to the franchise. Arnold’s music represents an elegant integration of broad orchestral statements, big-band inspired brass, electronica, and exotic percussion. Arnold has also consistently been involved in the creation of title songs, incorporating their elements into his scores. He references the established Bond motives and gestures and, consequently, the scores sound like the contemporary continuation of a tradition. In short, Arnold fulfilled many of the unwritten rules of the Bond scores.”
:: Source: Miguel Mera (2009) Invention/Re-invention, Music, Sound, and the Moving Image, Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring, pp. 1-20  (abstract only)

Concerts

Dublin | Manchester | Liverpool | London | Birmingham | Nottingham
22 Jan |     14 April    |   21 April   | 18 June |     26 June     |     28 June

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