Taichi Fukumura leads the Illinois Symphony Orchestra at a previous concert hosted at the Illinois State University Center for Performing Arts in Normal.
Brendan Denison
NORMAL -- With a wave of Harry Potter's wand, chanting "Expecto Patronum" can ward evil spirits away.
And, the flick of a conductor's wand shall summon a spellbinding experience that stirs a soul like no other.
Illinois Symphony Orchestra's "Magical Music of Harry Potter" concert takes the stage Friday at the University of Illinois at Springfield Performing Arts Center, and at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Illinois State University Center for Performing Arts in Normal.
Tickets to the Normal show are selling quick like Butterbeer. This Pantagraph reporter-columnist counted, as of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, about 38 seats remaining, plus 11 wheelchair-accessible spots, in the venue that seats about 800.
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Taichi Fukumura, ISO's music director, described the concert as a chronological journey throughout the whole series, from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" to "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."
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Attendees will hear many recognizable themes in the first part of the concert, Fukumura said.
"John Williams laid the groundwork for the whole franchise, 'Hedwig's Theme' being one of them," he said, referencing the first few films and the main theme of the series. Fukumura said character themes and musical concepts will range from glorious sounds in the "Buckbeak's Flight" piece to the quirky "Dobby's Theme."
Other composers represented in the concert include Patrick Doyle, Nichols Hooper and Alexandre Desplat.
Further into the series, Fukumura said the young wizards are growing up, and things get more complicated and serious. Fukumura said scores sound off with more emotion and iconic moments that people will remember.
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He exemplified one moment in the fourth movie, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," when Harry Potter first faces the main antagonist. Potter then returns from the Triwizard Tournament holding his slain classmate's body and tells Professor Dumbledore that Voldemort is back.
"Meanwhile, we have this really joyous fanfare in the background," Fukumura continued. "People who are true fans of the Harry Potter franchise will hear that music and have a totally different emotional impact and memory from the scene that it's from," he said, as compared to listeners who are not that familiar and just enjoy the music at the surface level.
"That's a case where (the music) has two completely different meanings," Fukumura said.
Other parts of the concert will feature music from big battle scenes at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"It really takes you through a journey of memories and emotions throughout the whole franchise," Fukumura said.
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As a conductor, Fukumura said the artistic process is the same for performing a cinematic soundtrack score.
"Whenever we perform music, we always think about how music does not exist in a vacuum," he said.
Even with abstract music that doesn't necessarily involve a specific story with it, Fukumura said musicians still consider what the composer is expressing.
"What is the meaning behind it? Where was that person in their life? What was society like?" the music director asked.
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Fukumura, a Japanese-American who was raised in Boston, was selected in June as ISO's music director.
He told The Pantagraph that being ISO's music director is a fantastic job, while adding "Illinois Symphony Orchestra is such a wonderful place to work."
Fukumura said the staff are very collaborative and they're trying out many new things.
"We're expanding the repertoire of the orchestra through every concert and sort of exploring in a different way, for every event, what does the symphonic orchestra experience look like or feel like," he said.
The symphony has also made progress filling out the performance hall. Marketing and communications director Beth Wakefield said they've hired 12 new musicians and are still hiring more.
Fukumura noted that's a significant fraction to add on, and it represents a large amount of new talent and excitement.
Wakefield also said attendees are encouraged to wear costumes at the "Magical Music of Harry Potter" concert.
Next up on the ISO season schedule is "Serenade of Strings," a chamber orchestra to be hosted at 7:30 p.m. April 5 at Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington. Music will include works of Yasushi Akutagawa, Alexa Still and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
"Passion & Pulse" will then follow at 7:30 p.m. May 3 at ISU's CPA to finish the season off.
"We're looking forward to all three of our remaining concerts this season," said Fukumura.
23 photos from Sips & Sounds at Keg Grove Brewing Company ISO Executive Director Trevor Orthmann with flutist Amanda Pond Gina Fritz, Dana Karraker Emmett Modos The Mlot family: Josh, Hudson, Samantha, Brooklyn Paula and Barby Pratt Amanda Pond, Jeremy Brunk Trevor Orthmann, Beth Wakefield Renee and Mike Shifflet Approximately 150 guests came out to enjoy the music Steve and Ruth Ann Friedberg, Jan and John Wohlwend, John and Marilyn Freese, Fran and Herm Brandau Jennifer Mroz, Lauren Romero Susan Knight, Martha Nelson Christy and Dan Bates, Claire Lamonica, Jean Bates Marcia Rossi, Phil Houser Leeanne and Brandon Weber Michael and Erin Jensen Michael and Kerrie Parker Feli and Angelica Sebastian, Aline and Derek Yamashige, Jim Moeller Dr. Kathy Bohn, Dr. Tom Nielsen Sydnee Scott, Kim Matlock, Summer and Brian Scott Zach Podunajec, Rylan Lindley Trevor and Liz Orthman, Bethany Freesen Jeremy Brunk playing the marimba.
Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison
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