by Peter Feher: Cleveland Classical
This article was originally published on Cleveland.com
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — You’ll definitely want to stick around for the credits at Blossom Music Center this weekend. The Cleveland Orchestra sounds marvelous playing John Williams’ entire score for Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, but the famous title tune — the “Raiders March,” teased in snippets throughout the movie — doesn’t appear in full until the very end.
It’s one of many theatrical moments that land effectively (and differently than you might remember) in the Orchestra’s presentation of the film live in concert. Only after Indiana Jones finishes his first cinematic crusade does the theme for all his subsequent adventures take true, triumphant shape.
Fortunately, the musicians don’t have to wait until the finale to share in the glory. Williams’ compositions are integral to the universe of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, and for the 1981 Raiders (directed by Spielberg, based on a concept by Lucas), the score serves as one of the chief storytellers.