‘E.T.’ is Wichita Symphony’s latest cinematic concert

One of the most iconic film images of the 1980s – a boy flying an alien past the moon on a bicycle in “E.T. The Extra Terrestrial” – wouldn’t have had nearly the impact without John Williams’ impeccable score, Ron Spigelman contends.

“To be honest, it’s nothing special,” Spiegelman said of the visual. “It’s wonderful, because you’re seeing an alien fly on a bicycle. But add music to that and it becomes magical.

“That’s (Williams’) secret. He didn’t make it incidental – he made it transcendental,” Spiegelman added. “And he transforms every scene with music.”

Spiegelman, pops conductor for the Tulsa Symphony, will lead the Wichita Symphony Orchestra in two performances of “E.T.” in concert next weekend.

In an Eagle story previewing the 2019-20 Wichita Symphony season, Executive Director Don Reinhold said “E.T.” was among the top-two vote-getters by audiences who saw “The Wizard of Oz” last season.

“Live cinema is something many orchestras are looking at as a valuable way for people to enjoy symphonic music,” Reinhold said at the time.

It’s the first of two movie-concerts on the Symphony’s schedule this season. “Apollo 13” will be featured in April.

Spiegelman, making his third appearance with the Wichita Symphony, estimates that he’s conducted more than a dozen movie scores for various orchestras, but this is his first “E.T.” and his first movie with the Wichita Symphony.

“It’s a remarkable thing if people haven’t experienced a live concert film,” he said. “It’s truly a unique way to watch a movie.”

Having a live symphony perform, with the movie projected above them, is comparable to seeing a three-dimensional movie without the silly glasses, he said.

“In a sense, you’re seeing the movie in true 3-D in that you’re hearing the music live. It’s surround-sound, live,” he said. “There’s nothing like it.”

He anticipates magical moments when the 1982 movie – for several years, the highest-grossing film of all time – hits the big screen at Century II.

“When you see that bicycle go in the air, with live musicians playing in front of you,” Spigelman said, “it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”

Conducting a movie score, he said, is far more challenging than conducting a traditional classical work.

“If you are a skillful conductor, if you have experience, you have to sort of leave any sort of interpretive ideas at the door,” he said. “You have to be a servant to the film. There is no wiggle room in that, other than in the end credits. In the end credits you have a little leeway, but even then you’re performing something that is really well-known to the audience.”

As opposed to someone who might not recognize artistic interpretation in a symphony, Spigelman said, “when they come to see a film like ‘E.T.’ or ‘Star Wars’ or ‘Harry Potter,’ if it isn’t right, they will know.

“You’re equal conductor, equal traffic cop,” he added. “You have to be absolutely as precise as a Swiss watch.”

Years of conducting for ballets, where the music has to precisely coincide with the music, helped him in his movie conductor, Spigelman said.

“Momentum can take over at times,” he said. “You have to know how to rein that in or speed things up at a moment’s notice.”

On his podium, an approximately 500-page score is color-coded to show the entrances and exits of each musician, he said. He also has a monitor that shows the movie as well as instructions needed for him to conduct the score.

“You have all this information, like flying an airplane in a sense. You have to be aware of everything that’s going on and guided by what’s shown on the screen,” he said. “So even if you think you know what’s happening, you have to be fully aware of the monitors.”

Some conductors use an earpiece to help them better corral the music, he said, and others will use a click track to monitor second-by-second changes.

“You have to be absolutely, 100% focused on what’s going on every second in the movie,” he said.

Among Spiegelman’s movie-conducting credits are “Star Wars: A New Hope,” the first two “Harry Potter” movies and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” He will also add “Home Alone” to the list, all creations of movie maestro John Williams.

“To say I’m a fan of John Williams is an understatement. He really, truly made music an indelible character in movies,” Spigelman said. “His characterizations and his genius in understanding emotion and translating it into the music is simply breathtaking.”

Spigelman said he detects influences of several classical composing greats – especially Sergei Prokofiev, he contends – in Williams’ music,” he said.

“He puts it inside this incredible blender that is his mind, and makes magic on the screen,” Spigelman said. “I’m in awe constantly of his scores and what magic he adds. He pretty much makes the movie.”

‘E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL IN CONCERT’

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8

Where: Century II concert hall, 225 W. Douglas

Tickets: $35 to $80, with $25 student tickets on Sunday, and $20 child tickets with purchase of an adult ticket; the deals are available only through the symphony box office, 316-267-7658; order online at wichitasymphony.org