The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) will present the first-ever live “Oscar Concert” celebrating this year’s nominated scores and songs on Thursday, February 27, at 8 p.m. at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Los Angeles. The program will feature an 80-piece orchestra performing suites from each of the nominated original scores, conducted by their composers:
William Butler and Owen Pallett – Her
Alexandre Desplat – Philomena
Thomas Newman – Saving Mr. Banks
Steven Price – Gravity
John Williams – The Book Thief
The composers will also participate in a brief onstage conversation with film critic and radio host Elvis Mitchell about creating their scores.
In addition, the concert also will feature this year’s nominated original songs, including Let It Go from Disney’s Frozen, performed by the songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and Happy from Despicable Me 2, performed by Jill Scott. The performers of the other two nominated songs, Ordinary Love from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and The Moon Song from Her, will be announced later. Tickets for the event are available online at Ticketmaster.
Too long in coming, and pity it’s only in L.A. They should test nationwide demand with shows in a few other cities. I’m in Austin, but I’d drive to Houston or Dallas for that.