An Oscar-worthy February at QSO

When you take your seat in the cinema, or turn on your TV at home, you might not realise it, but you are enveloped in orchestral music. The contribution of the orchestral score to a film cannot be overstated. Watch a film on mute, and the emotional punches simply don’t land in the same way: the action seems paler, and less intense.

This Oscars season, we’re celebrating all the wonderful film music that we love playing. Over the past seven years, our Cinematic concert series has delighted audiences with their favourite iconic scores, and the 2025 edition saw our musicians dressed up in their best red-carpet finery to play a selection of swashbuckling tunes. Led by conductor and host Benjamin Northey, award-winning soprano Nina Korbe joined us to inject a dose of old-Hollywood glamour for four famous songs from The Sound of Music, West Side Story, Wicked and The Little Mermaid.

If you missed this enchanting concert or simply would like to relive it, you can now watch the entire performance on ABC iview.

This month, we’re also paying tribute to a man responsible for many of these iconic scores: John Williams. Since the 1960s, Williams has written soundtracks to our favourite big-screen adventures, setting the standard for film music and garnering a host of awards: he remains to this day the second most-nominated person at the Oscars, second only to the late Walt Disney. 

On 27 and 28 February, join us at QPAC to hear a snapshot of his lengthy career, showcasing one of the most iconic musical voices of our time. Expect instantly recognisable themes - from soaring heroism to intimate honesty - that define entire generations of film music. Whether accompanying out-of-this-world antics in Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T., depicting gruesome creatures in Jaws and Jurassic Park, or tugging on our heart strings in Angela’s Ashes and Schindler’s List, Williams’ orchestration shines: his trademark lush strings, brilliant brass, and vivid colour give the orchestra a chance to play at full power and finesse.

Get your tickets now and join us for an electrifying concert experience, blending storytelling, spectacle, and emotional resonance in classic John Williams style.