Denève + Hadelich: The Hollywood Sound

Familiar film themes and bold orchestral works come together in a concert that explores the dramatic soundscape of early Hollywood and its classical roots.

Presented as part of the New World Symphony’s 2025–2026 season, Denève + Hadelich: The Hollywood Sound takes place at the New World Center on Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 15 at 2:00 p.m. Led by Artistic Director Stéphane Denève, the program traces the cinematic influence of European composers like Max Steiner and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, whose scores helped define the golden age of Hollywood. Highlights include Steiner’s main theme from King Kong and Korngold’s overtures to The Sea Hawk and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The concert also features violinist Augustin Hadelich performing Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35, a work that bridges the composer’s film scoring style with his concert hall sensibilities. Known for his expressive range and technical mastery, Hadelich brings depth to a piece that draws directly from Korngold’s film music catalog.

Closing the program is Richard Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra, a tone poem famously used in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. With its iconic brass fanfare and sweeping scope, the work underscores the thematic connection between classical concert music and modern cinematic storytelling.

Individual tickets for this event go on sale July 25, 2025.