Emmy-winning composer Jeff Beal to conduct world premiere performance live with Hollywood Chamber Orchestra
Hollywood Chamber Orchestra music directors Noah Gladstone and Mark Robertson announce that Emmy‐winning composer Jeff Beal will conduct the world premiere of his acclaimed score to the 2013 documentary film Blackfish, live-to‐picture, on Friday, July 1, 2016, at the Montalbán Theater in Hollywood. Purchase tickets here.
Blackfish premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2013, and has since captivated audiences around the world. After Magnolia picked up theatrical rights, it was one of the first projects selected by CNN to be distributed via their 24-hour news channel, with Netflix chosen to stream the film in the U.S. and abroad. Not only has the film received universal critical acclaim, it has also ignited a worldwide discussion regarding orca captivity.
Jeff Beal
The musical score, composed by Local 47 member Jeff Beal, was recorded with an 18-piece orchestra under the AFM Festival Film Agreement. Contracted by David Low, the orchestra consisted of Mark Robertson (solo violin and concertmaster), Jen Choi Fischer, Sam Fischer, Larry Greenfield, Cheryl Kim, Songa Lee, Neli Nikolaeva, Grace Oh, Briana Bandy, Luke Maurer, Aaron Oltman, Rodney Wirtz, David Low (solo cello), Alisha Bauer, Jason Lippman, David Mergen, Tom Harte, Jeffrey Richman, and Chris Bleth. Composer Jeff Beal played piano and trumpet.
Thanks to the composer, each member of the orchestra is credited in the film, which is extremely rare in today’s environment.
The Hollywood Chamber Orchestra is the creation of music directors Gladstone and Robertson, both longtime members of the Hollywood recording community. The orchestra was designed to fill the void of a year-round orchestra in Hollywood. Recent concerts have included performances at the International Horn Society’s 2015 convention at Colburn School’s Zipper Hall, and at the Montalbán Theater, presenting LA Philharmonic violinist Martin Chalifour as soloist in Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Upcoming projects for the ensemble include recording Jeremy Zuckerman’s score to the documentary film BearTrek, an album of trance music by composer Ashoka Thiagarajan, and two classical concerts, also in July 2016.
Speaking about the upcoming Blackfish concert, Gladstone says, “This concert will present the film for the first time while also accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra performing the score. Many of the musicians that recorded the original soundtrack will be performing the score live, which is thrilling.”
“The score to Blackfish is a personal favorite of mine,” Robertson says. “We could not be more pleased to partner with Jeff Beal on this project, and present this incredible film, amazing score, and important message to a live audience.”
An Eastman School of Music graduate, composer and guest conductor Jeff Beal has been nominated for 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning four times for his work on Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Monk, The Company, and most recently House of Cards. He has also scored the films Appaloosa, Pollock, and The Queen of Versailles. He has provided music for the upcoming films Weiner, The Champions, and HBO’s My Promised Land.
