Gandalf rides with Pippin to the realm of Gondor. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas summon the dead men of Dunharrow for battle. Frodo and Sam cross the perilous landscape of Mordor towards Mount Doom; and every step of the way the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Choir provide the soundscape for the epic journey. It all began in 2011 to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the start of Peter Jackson’s sprawling trilogy, with The Fellowship of the Ring being shown accompanied by a live orchestra and choir in Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. After an overwhelming response, the event was moved to the O2 for The Two Towers and it was also here when the journey ended in October of this year with The Return of the King. To produce the dynamic score, the orchestra utilised an array of instruments including a huge string section, six French horns, less conventional orchestral instruments including a pan flute, cimbalum and accordion, and an impressive percussion section including the massive Kaiko drum, a bodhrán, gongs and timpani – all led by RTÉ CO leader Mia Cooper.
The 180-strong chorus of children and adults was made up of various choirs from Dublin and Carlow, and solo duties were taken up by sopranos Clara Sanabras and Brad Hennessy. Conductor David Reitz spent two days rehearsing the score with the RTÉ CO: a day in the orchestra’s studio base in RTÉ Radio Centre, and another day in University College Dublin – where the extra space was needed to fit the choir. A final rehearsal and soundcheck took place in the O2 on the afternoon of the performance. CHASSEUR magazine had the privilege of being the only media outlet with access to rehearsals and we bring you exclusive behind-the-scenes photos from two days of rehearsals.