Displaying items by tag: Paul Freeman

Auditorium Philms’ presentation of Steven Spielberg’s 1981 classic Raiders of the Lost Ark with the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra transforms a beloved blockbuster into a full‑body cinematic jolt. Indiana Jones’ adventures play out across the towering Auditorium Theatre screen, but it’s the live orchestra that makes the familiar feel astonishingly new. John Williams’ legendary score doesn’t just sit beneath the film—it surges through it, electrifying every frame. Each chase, each narrow escape, each sweeping desert vista lands with heightened force as the Philharmonic unleashes the “Raiders March” and the score’s darker, more mysterious undercurrents with breathtaking clarity. The result is an experience that feels both nostalgically rooted in movie history and thrillingly alive in the present moment.

Set in 1936, Raiders of the Lost Ark follows archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) as he’s recruited by U.S. Army Intelligence to locate the Ark of the Covenant, a biblical artifact believed to hold immense supernatural power. The Nazis are already searching for it, hoping to harness its destructive force for their military ambitions.

Indy’s quest takes him from the jungles of South America to the snowy mountains of Nepal and the bustling streets of Cairo. Along the way, he reunites with his tough, resourceful former flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Black), and together they battle traps, treachery, and relentless Nazi agents. Standing in Indy’s way is his rival, the suave and morally slippery archaeologist René Belloq (Paul Freeman), who has aligned himself with the Nazis to claim the Ark for his own purposes.

The adventure barrels toward a race‑against‑time finale as Indy fights to keep the Ark out of enemy hands—culminating in one of the most unforgettable climaxes in action‑adventure cinema.

The stunning Auditorium Theatre amplifies the magic, its grand acoustics allowing the orchestra’s sound to bloom without ever overpowering the action onscreen. The coordination between musicians and film is so precise that it feels as though the score is being created in the moment, perfectly synced to every crack of Indy’s whip and every pulse‑pounding twist. The result is a seamless blend of concert and cinema, a reminder of just how essential Williams’ music is to the film’s spirit, humor, and sense of adventure.

Conductor Thiago Tiberio.

Brazilian conductor Thiago Tiberio brings remarkable artistry and precision to the podium, making him one of the standout talents in the world of film‑in‑concert performance. Known for his expert live‑to‑picture synchronization, Tiberio has led orchestras in acclaimed presentations of Star Wars, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coco, Lord of the Rings, and other major studio projects across the globe. His background spans opera, multimedia productions, and award‑winning work recognized by organizations including the United Nations. What truly distinguishes Tiberio is his dynamic presence and emotional clarity - he draws rich, expressive playing from musicians and elevates every score he touches, turning familiar soundtracks into thrilling live experiences.

Each time Indy charges onto the screen with a burst of heroism - or the Chicago Philharmonic unleashes a perfectly rendered cue from Williams’ score - the audience responds as one. Cheers ripple through the theatre, a spontaneous wave of energy that makes the experience feel communal and electric.

Whether you’ve seen Raiders a dozen times or are discovering it for the first time, this live‑orchestra presentation is a joyous celebration of movie magic - an electrifying tribute to one of Hollywood’s most enduring collaborations.

As a newly crowned favorite way to experience a film classic, Auditorium Philms makes a strong case for returning again and again. Their upcoming slate keeps the magic alive, offering even more opportunities to see iconic movies reimagined through the power of live orchestral performance. Keep an eye on their calendar - you won’t want to miss the cinematic treasures still to come.

Saturday, May 16, 2026 • 7:30 PM
Auditorium Philms Presents
Rocky In Concert – 50th Anniversary
with the Chicago Philharmonic

Saturday, September 26, 2026 • 7:30 PM
Auditorium Philms Presents
Top Gun: Maverick

Saturday, October 24, 2026 • 7:30 PM
Auditorium Philms Presents
Edward Scissorhands In Concert – Live to Film
with the Chicago Philharmonic

Saturday, December 19, 2026 • 7:00 PM
Auditorium Philms Presents
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York – Live in Concert

For tickets and/or more information, visit https://www.auditoriumtheatre.org/events/buy-tickets/auditorium-philms.

I am sitting here, at nearly midnight, trying to figure out how to describe the relationship between space and the symphony. I remember jokingly putting on my Instagram how the two made the perfect combination. Alas, here I am struggling with how to put the beauty of space combined with the symphony into words. Maestro Paul Freeman was a man who was able to see the connection between science and the arts. Even though maestro Freeman is no longer with us he has still left an impact on everything, as well as everyone, that he was apart of. 

In July of 2015 Maestro Freeman passed away leaving a lasting legacy with the Sinfonietta for years to come. This whole 2015-2016 season was dedicated to his memory as “Paul Freeman: Season of Celebration.” With this being their final performance of the season the Sinfonietta not only decided to honor Maestro Freeman, but to combine to subjects that not many would have thought of. This is where the Sinfonietta brought in Jose Fransisco Salgado to help blend science with the arts, a way to add a visual representation to the music that the audience is hearing. 

Jose Fransisco Salgado carries a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Michigan and is the executive director and co-founder of KV265, a foundation that prides itself on communicating science through art. This is where the Sinfonietta comes in. For ten years the Sinfonietta has been working with Dr. Salgado, which all started when he was at Adler Planetarium and debuted what became an award winning suite of seven short films set to Gustav Holst’s The Planets. This relationship between Dr. Salgado and the Sinfonietta has blossomed into the performance that was given on Monday night where Dr. Salgado presented new footage, as well as scientific visualizations, to the works by Holst, Estacio, and Mussorgsky. 

The performance of Chicago Sinfonietta's Cosmic Convergence at Symphony Center opened with Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity set to The Planets by Gustav Holst. This work focused on the high resolution photos of Jupiter’s moons IO and Europa. From there the audience was given to see the majesty of the aurora borealis, which Dr. Salgado filmed over a span of days in the Canadian Rockies, set to the work of John Estacio aptly called Borealis. The audience was then treated to something that only few on planet could actually attest to seeing for themselves, a view of earth from the International Space Station. High resolution photos taken from the ISS span the entire globe in a matter of minutes. The audience is treated to majestic views that only a few are lucky enough to truly experience. This all culminated in what was simply coined as Mars, the Bringer of War. The audience is treated to amazing photos of the desolate landscape that is the Martian surface as well as the occasional dirt devil (dust tornado for the lay person). The photos and videos go hand and hand with the musical arrangements that Dr. Salgado selected to show both the raw emotion and beauty that space has. That was all before intermission.

The second half of the program took a bit of a turn as it was no longer really dealing with science, or space for that matter, but more on the focus and celebration of Maestro Freeman where members of the Sinfonietta spoke to the audience about their interactions with the Maestro and how he affected their lives. The work that stood out the most was the piece entitled: Global Warming by Michael Abels. The peace offers a more hopeful outlook on life itself and the thaw in international relations after the Cold War had ended. Hope is the driving force between everyone on this planet. Hope is what helped Maestro Freeman create the most diverse symphony in the country. Hope is what leads people to victory, which is the theme of final movement Victory Road also composed by Mr. Abels. Victory Road is the culmination of Maestro Freeman’s life as well as career. 

The performance on a positive note because at the end of the day it is about celebrating the lives that have the most impact on us. This show was more than the blending of the world of science and art, but it was the celebration of a man who had the foresight to see that the two subjects go hand and hand. A celebration that was handled so masterfully that people received an education, as well as an appreciation, for the world and space as a whole. A celebration of a man who has impacted all those around him to the point where not a single person has a disparaging comment to make about him. The Sinfonietta will continue to do what it does best, bringing two subjects together to help blend education with the arts.