ET: The Extra-Terrestrial In Concert, London
You’re going to be hearing a lot of a certain John Williams movie score in weeks to come, but if Star Wars fatigue is setting in already, here’s a different one of his – like you’ve never heard it before. Spielberg’s stirring sci-fi tale of Americans providing a safe haven for a vulnerable immigrant has lost none of its heart-rending power, despite the decidedly old-school animatronics. To transport you even further, it’s showing here for the first time in the UK with a full symphony orchestra playing along to the movie. In a similar vein, the Barbican (EC2) has a double bill of orchestral movie events (just music, no film): The Best Of Bond, presented by Fiona Fullerton (28 Dec), and, inevitably, Star Wars And Beyond (30 Dec), which takes in such other cosmic classical scores as Star Trek and Thunderbirds.
Royal Albert Hall, SW7, 28 Dec
Scotland Galore! Edinburgh
Current Scottish (or Scottish-ish) releases Sunset Song and Hector put a gloss on what have been lean times for the national industry. But at this celebratory time of year, best to remember old acquaintances and hope for better fortunes to come. This season rounds up recent hits such as Proclaimers-based musical Sunshine On Leith, the underrated, David Tennant-starring What We Did On Our Holiday and magical Edinburgh-set animation The Illusionist. There is also the unexpectedly pertinent The Cheviot, The Stag And The Black, Black Oil – a survey of 18th, 19th and 20th-century Scottish statehood that chimes with today’s debates about independence – plus older favourites such as Local Hero, Shallow Grave, The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie and Whisky Galore. The latter has just been remade with Eddie Izzard and a Scottish team – so something to celebrate there.
