In the debilitating lull of overlapping assignments, the looming threat of exams and the existential dread of being a student, the cinemusica was the best experience for a temporary solution to forgetting all of those things. 

Walking into campus felt ordinary like any other day but walking into auditorium 2 past the crowd of excited students and parents felt like crossing over into another dimension. I couldn’t fathom that it was the same place I had my dreadful orientation in as a first year student. Rows of seats glowed faintly in dim lights as people huddled in, searching for the best seats. The air buzzed with excitement as the audience took their places trying not to be too loud as they settled themselves. The subdued lighting drew all eyes to the grand stage, where a sea of intricate instruments were lined up. One by one, performers adorned in elegant black suits and dresses took their places in quiet confidence, ready to put on a show. As the auditorium filled, the main doors finally closed, carrying in the fleeting scent of popcorn , the last reminder of the world outside before the music began.

 All eyes turned to the stage as the lights focused on the MC, who warmly welcomed the audience before segwaying into the first performance without long speeches or unnecessary pauses. A brief silence followed,  introducing the start of the performance as the spotlight focused on the orchestra. The conductor carefully raised his hands gracefully into the air and the first notes of violins filled the room leading into a beautiful rendition of “The sun also rises”.  The audience leaned back,entranced, as the performers moved in perfect harmony. Warm orange lights bathed the center of the room, echoing the warmth of the music, as if they were encapsulating the feeling of watching a rare sunrise.

Lights grew dim, marking the end of the first performance as the MC made his way back on stage and the projector behind him faded to black. While he introduced the second piece, murmurs of excitement broke out around the auditorium as the screen displayed the well loved movie franchise “The fantastic beasts”. Once again, the conductor guided the orchestra with quiet authority, leading a whimsical performance weaving together different instruments along with subtle shifts in tempo and volumes. Eyes remained glued to the performers as the audience observed their infectious passion in playing their instruments to what seemed like perfection.

The next few performances sparked a shift in the audience. Guests instinctively reached for their phones to record while others shifted in their seats in anticipation , eagerly awaiting the orchestra’s rendition of two well-known pieces, “Princess Leia’s theme and the imperial march” and “the dark knight”. Soft red lights washed over the auditorium as popular scenes from these iconic movies assisted the dramatic harmony of the orchestra. The orchestra captured the spirit of these characters with uncanny precision, their music swelling and softening in perfect sync with the unfolding moments on screen.

The first half of the performance ended with two challenging and dramatic pieces, the god father and the ecstasy of gold. The haunting yet intimate score from the god father was flawlessly synced with the visuals on the screen, pulling the audience into their world. Every shift in tone, every pause for dialogue, and every transition from soft strings to powerful brass felt deliberate and dramatic. Both pieces were accompanied by shifting colours creating an immersive experience, as if the audience were watching the scenes unfold in real life.

After a brief intermission, acknowledging sponsors and bringing attention to the stalls set up outside, the orchestra returned with renewed energy for the second half. The tone shifted, taking a more theatrical angle as they performed powerful renditions from The Phantom of the Opera, Hamilton Suite, Les Misérables, Wicked Medley, and Chicago Medley, before closing with the spirited theme from Hawaii Five-0. Each piece stood out uniquely, carrying different emotions. The orchestra managed to cover a wide range of moods from the haunting grandeur of Phantom to the inspiring defiance of Hamilton accompanied with hypnotising visuals. 

As the final notes faded and the applause filled the auditorium. I was left in awe, not just at the sheer talent and ability to bring such challenging, iconic and dramatic pieces to life but at how they created an immersive experience that didn’t just make you feel like you watched a performance but lived it instead. 

Written by Reona

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