On Thursday 18 September, I achieved the ‘bucket-list’ambition of hearing and watching a live film score recording at Abbey Road
studios. This amazing opportunity was very kindly made available to me by Rhian
Paris (of Queenswood Music Department) and Colin Paris (Principal Double Bass
of the London Symphony Orchestra).  

The score was another masterpiece by multi-award winning
composer Alexandre Desplat (Harry Potter 7 Parts 1 and 2, The Grand Budapest Hotel,
The Girl with the Pearl Earring and many more) and featured the String, Brass
and Flute section from the LSO.   Part of the morning included the immense privilege of being
introduced to and by Mr Desplat, and meeting the ‘well-oiled machine’ that is
the team within the mixing room at Abbey Road. 
Along with ‘Billy, Tim and Mike’ from Universal studios, the combination
of highly trained ears and virtuosic sound manipulation was awe-inspiring to
behold. Music that already sounded cinema-quality emitted from speakers the
price of small cars, gently resting on cushioned plinths. The screens above
featured snippets from the new film Unbroken – the true story of an American
pilot who makes a horrific transition to Japanese prisoner of war.  

Following a quick coffee break with the orchestra in their
café, which could rival Queenswood for quality, I was invited to watch the
orchestra session in the live room, outside the mixing booth.  From the balcony I could hear the organic
sound of the orchestra and witness Desplat’s conducting and creativity first
hand. It was very exciting to see him push the orchestra for the right sound he
was after, all the while taking notes in his headphones from the mixing booth
below. The highlight was an enormously loud discordant chord from the whole
ensemble, as a plane crashes to the ground on screen, preceded by Desplat’s
request, ‘How much more can you give it??!’  

A life-affirming morning was concluded by lunch in the café
and a set of clichéd (but essential) photos on the legendary zebra crossing.  

My enormous thanks must go to Mr and Mrs Paris and to
Alexandre Desplat for their generosity in allowing me to experience a truly
enlightening day – it has  filled me with
new drive and determination for my work. Watch this space!