While at the San Diego Convention Center this weekend, “Star Wars” director J.J. Abrams asked the crowd, “Who wants to see a live ‘Star Wars’ concert right now?” The response was euphoric. More than 7,000 Comic-Con attendees left the convention center and descended upon Embarcadero Marina Park South to hear the San Diego Symphony perform a free concert of John Williams’ “Star Wars” music.
Prior to the concert, Academy Award-winner and “Star Wars” composer Williams appeared on video to welcome the crowd and say: “The music tonight will be performed by one of my favorite orchestras, the San Diego Symphony.”
The enthusiasm was palpable as the standing-room only crowd waved thousands of lightsabers in anticipation. As dusk settled in, Abrams and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy greeted the crowd and introduced the “Star Wars” franchise’s past and future, bringing out the returning stars of the original trilogy: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hammill along with cast members of Disney’s upcoming “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
The glorious concert was performed by the San Diego Symphony, led by the orchestra’s new assistant conductor Sameer Patel. While the familiar and thrilling music soared over San Diego Bay, the crowd roared and cheered with delight as video from past “Star Wars” blockbusters along with the grandeur of the San Diego Symphony musicians played on the big screen for the capacity crowd to enjoy.
The evening concluded with the music sending chills throughout the enthusiastic crowd while a thunderous explosion of magnificent fireworks stunned the audience and rivaled the recent Fourth of July celebration.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is scheduled to release in theaters on Dec. 18. For more information and to purchase tickets to the San Diego Symphony Summer Pops tickets, call the box office at (619) 235-0804 or log onto www.sandiegosymphony.com.
The Summer Pops season continues through Sept. 6. Highlights include Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, LeAnn Rimes, Ben Folds, Burt Bacharach, Esperanza Spalding and Natalie Cole and the 1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular.
