THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY’S ANNUAL FILM SERIES FEATURES SCREENINGS OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES’ JURASSIC PARK, TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, DISNEY’S MARY POPPINS, AND CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, PERFORMED LIVE TO PICTURE

 

2018–19 season also includes performances of Love Actually, Home Alone, and La La Land

 

Tickets for Home Alone on sale October 22; tickets for all other films available now at sfsymphony.org

La La Land at SF Symphony

SAN FRANCISCO, CA—The San Francisco Symphony’s (SFS) acclaimed Film Series continues in the 2018–19 season with the Orchestra performing the live accompaniment to seven iconic films projected on a large screen above the stage. The Film Series kicks off November 1–3 & 6 with Universal Pictures’ 1993 science fiction blockbusterJurassic Park featuring the SF Symphony performing John Williams’ iconic score live, conducted by Constantine Kitsopoulos. On November 30, December 1 & 6, Ted Sperling leads the SFS in performances of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, with music by Danny Elfman. December 11–12 concerts present another Holiday favorite—Universal Pictures’ Christmas-themed romantic comedy Love Actually with a score by Craig Armstrong, conducted by Erik Ochsner. Then, on December 19–21, Randall Craig Fleischer leads the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus, joined by the Ragazzi Boys Chorus and Young Women’s Choral Projects of San Francisco, in Chris Columbus’ beloved Holiday comedy Home Alone, featuring music by John Williams.

Home Alone © 1990 Twentieth Century Fox

After the holidays, the Film Series returns January 5–6 with Disney’s 1964 family favorite Mary Poppins, featuringTed Sperling conducting the SFS in the Sherman Brothers’ Grammy® Award-winning score; and on February 27–28composer/conductor Justin Hurwitz leads the SFS in Damien Chazelle’s 2016 romantic musical La La Land, winner of six Academy Awards®, including Best Original Music Score for Hurtwitz’s enchanting soundtrack. The Film Series wraps up with screenings of Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind on March 1–2 with Joshua Gersen leading the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus in John Williams’ groundbreaking score.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind with SF Symphony © 1977, renewed 2005, Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About the Films

Universal Pictures’ Jurassic Park transformed the movie-going experience for an entire generation. Masterfully directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the best-selling novel by Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park transports us to a secluded island where scientists have succeeded in reviving the age of dinosaurs in a brand new, immersive theme park, the likes of which has never been seen before. The film features one of John Williams’ most iconic and beloved musical scores, which will be performed by the SF Symphony live to picture on November 1–3 & 6 with Constantine Kitsopoulos conducting. Now audiences can experience this groundbreaking film as never before: projected in HD with a full symphony orchestra performing Williams’ magnificent score live to picture. Welcome… to Jurassic Park! Click here to watch a short trailer of the upcoming performances.

Jurassic Park at SF Symphony

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is a 1993 stop-motion animated film conceived and produced by Tim Burton, and directed by Henry Selick. It is a musical dark fantasy, with songs and score composed by Danny Elfman.The Nightmare Before Christmas tells the story of Jack Skellington, the King of “Halloween Town” who stumbles through a portal to “Christmas Town” and decides to celebrate the holiday, with some dastardly and comical circumstances. Ted Sperling leads the SFS in performances on November 30, December 1 & 6.

Universal Pictures’ Love Actually is a 2003 romantic comedy written and directed by Richard Curtis, with a score composed by Craig Armstrong. The film, set in contemporary London in the weeks leading up to Christmas, tells ten separate yet interweaving stories of love around Christmas time. The SFS presents this Holiday favorite in concerts on December 11–12 with Erik Ochsner conducting.

Home Alone, written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus, was released to great acclaim in 1990, becoming the highest-grossing live action comedy film of all time in the United States. Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who’s accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation, and who must defend his home against two bungling thieves, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. A true holiday favorite, this beloved comedy classic features John Williams’ charming and delightful score, performed live to picture by the SFS on December 19–21 with Randall Craig Fleischer conducting.

Disney’s Mary Poppins is Robert Stevenson’s 1964 family classic that tells the story of a magical English nanny, Mary Poppins, as she arrives at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Banks to take care of their two children, Jane and Michael, teaching them to have fun and bringing happiness back to the Banks household. The film’s original motion picture soundtrack featured 14 songs by now-legendary Disney songwriters and composers Richard and Robert Sherman. The soundtrack won two Grammy^® Awards (Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show & Best Recording for Children) and the film won five Oscars^®, two of which the Sherman brothers received for “Chim Chim Cher-ee” and the film’s original musical score. Ted Sperling conducts the SFS in concerts on January 5–6.

La La Land is a dazzling homage to the golden age of Hollywood musicals, following the whirlwind romance of aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) and jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) as they chase their big breaks in modern day Los Angeles. Written and directed by Damien Chazelle with a score by Justin Hurwitz, this 2016 musical film garnered six Academy Awards®, including Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Music Score. Conducted by composer Justin Hurwitz himself, the SF Symphony performs his magnificent soundtrack live to picture in concerts on February 27–28.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind, written and directed by Steven Spielberg and released in 1977, tells the story of Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss), an ordinary blue-collar electrical lineman from Indiana whose life changes after a close encounter with an unidentified flying object. Widely considered one of the most treasured and influential science fiction films of all time, Close Encounters of the Third Kind features a groundbreaking score written by John Williams, which will be performed live to picture by the SF Symphony and Chorus on March 1–2 with Joshua Gersen conducting.

Tickets are available at sfsymphony.org, by phone at 415-864-6000, and at the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office, on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco

Pre-Order Food and Drinks: Concertgoers may pre-order food and beverages by calling 415-252-1937 or emailing Global Gourmet Catering staff at davieshallpreorder@ggcatering.com before the performance to place an order.

 

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY’S 2018–19 FILM SERIES

 

Ø  Film Series

Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 8 pm
Friday, November 2, 2018 at 8 pm

Saturday, November 3, 2018 at 8 pm
Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 8 pm

Constantine Kitsopoulos conductor

San Francisco Symphony

 

John WILLIAMS                       Jurassic Park

Steven SPIELBERG director

Tickets: $50–165

Ø  Film Series

Friday, November 30, 2018 at 8 pm
Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 8 pm
Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 8 pm

Ted Sperling conductor
San Francisco Symphony

 

Danny ELFMAN                        The Nightmare Before Christmas

Tim BURTON director

Tickets: $50–175

 

Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 7:30 pm

Erik Ochsner conductor

San Francisco Symphony

Craig ARMSTRONG                  Love Actually

Richard CURTIS director

Tickets: $90–185

 

Ø  Film Series

 

Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Friday, December 21, 2018 at 7:30 pm

Randall Craig Fleischer conductor
Young Women’s Choral Projects of San Francisco

The Ragazzi Boys Chorus, Joyce Keil artistic director
San Francisco Symphony

San Francisco Symphony Chorus

 

John WILLIAMS                                   Home Alone

Chris COLUMBUS director

Tickets: $50–165

 

Ø  Film Series

Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 8 pm
Sunday, January 6, 2019 at 2 pm

Ted Sperling conductor

San Francisco Symphony

 

Robert and Richard SHERMAN            Mary Poppins

Robert STEVENSON director

Tickets: $60–170

 

Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 8 pm
Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 8 pm

Justin Hurwitz conductor
San Francisco Symphony

 

Justin HURWITZ                       La La Land

Damien CHAZELLE director

 

Tickets: $40–160

 

Ø  Film Series

Friday, March 1, 2019 at 8 pm
Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 8 pm

Joshua Gersen conductor

San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin director
San Francisco Symphony

 

John WILLIAMS                       Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Steven SPIELBERG director