29 May 2015 (gig)
10 June 2015
Dr. Who fans are legion as was witnessed at Glasgow’s impressive SSE Hydro venue when it would appear that at least half of the city turned up to revel in the out of this world Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular.
The spectacle, which celebrates the world’s longest running science fiction TV series, showcased the evocative and thrilling music written by Murray Gold for the series since 2005 and featured over 100 performers including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and members of the BBC National Chorus of Wales, conducted by Ben Foster.
Fifth Doctor Peter Davison (who appeared in the series from 1981 to 1984) acted as the presenter and narrator. The event was brought to UK-venues by Vision Nine and BBC Worldwide.
The evening presented us with a whole feast of entertainment from Gold’s captivating music to various clips encompassing the time period that has elapsed since this now evermore increasingly popular series began… way back in 1963!
Naturally we get to see all the Doctors, with the emphasis obviously much more focused on the latter-day Time Lords. Coincidentally (for truth is invariably stranger than fiction) 10th Doctor David Tennant is married to Davison’s daughter Georgia Moffett!
It goes without saying that a great deal of the audience, in particular the youngsters, were taken by the on-stage appearance of many of the Doctor’s infamous adversaries like the Daleks, the Cybermen, the Ood, the Silence, and the Foretold Mummy from the potent Peter Capaldi episode ‘Mummy on the Orient Express’. Would you believe it, there even was a Tardis on stage!
Of course, the baddies also made an appearance in the various clips shown on the big screen. Amongst the most popular clips were the eerie David Tennant episodes ‘Blink’ and ‘The Shakespeare Code’, the Matt Smith adventures ‘The Vampires of Venice’ and ‘The Crimson Horror’, and Capaldi’s merry adventure ‘Robot of Sherwood’.
Peter Davison did an excellent job of holding the evening together with his informative know-how, and his light and witty banter – especially between him and conductor Ben Foster.
Regarding Gold’s music, we will all have our favourite pieces, in particular – with regards to this reviewer – was the energetically strident ‘Dalek Suite’, and the plaintive ‘Death In Heaven’ hauntingly performed by Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas. It goes without saying that the evening ended with Gold’s new arrangement of the Dr. Who signature theme tune.
