EVENT PREVIEW
“Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage”
8 p.m. Jan. 30. $27.50-$47.50. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 855-285-8499, foxtheatre.org.
“Star Wars” may be orbiting in the minds of many sci-fi fans these days, but after 50 years of fandom, “Star Trek” fans continue to live long and prosper.
The “Trek” franchise lands at the Fox Theatre on Jan. 30, boldly going where some Trekkies have never gone before. “Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage” celebrates “Trek’s” 50th anniversary with a live symphony orchestra performing iconic music from the brand’s film and TV incarnations while memorable moments play on a mammoth screen.
William Shatner, better known as the original Kirk, recently spoke with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, beaming up his own personal captain’s log regarding the importance of “Star Trek’s” music, the uniqueness of this production and how the soundtrack conjures his own “Trek” memories.
Q: What are some of your favorite moments during “Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage”?
A: They feature moments from the original series and the motion pictures I was involved with. And one of my favorite "Star Trek" movies, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," is there. So there are moments when I appear on screen that are great fun. But what is fascinating to me is the way the music enhances the moment. You hear the dialogue and see the moment, then you hear the music. Suddenly your attention is tuned to the music. You're not in the moment of the drama, you're listening to the music and suddenly you begin to appreciate what a great artist Jerry Goldsmith was. This is the uniqueness of the event.
Q: How essential do you think music is to the “Trek” franchise?
A: Critical. Alexander Courage's theme with that soprano singing the notes really enhances the scene. You'll see dramatic scenes that are good and well acted and all, but then the music enhances it. If you're looking at the spaceship, you're also hearing music that dignifies everything and takes part of your mind away from thinking these are models or computer graphics. It's magical what the music does.
Q: You’re a music lover, having recorded many of your own albums. Can you recall your initial reaction the first time you heard Alexander Courage’s original “Star Trek” theme?
A: I was entranced. These are great artists. These composers that write for the movies and television would have been in another era the great composers of their time, because they are. They would've been writing symphonies and quartets. They just took the opportunity to write for movies rather than for the concert stage. Still, the music is extraordinary.
Q: “Star Trek” music obviously triggers emotions in fans. But you were there and experienced the productions from the inside. For instance, what sort of emotions well up when you hear the music from “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”?
A: A number of things. One is the music itself. It's emotional, and you can feel emotion through it. Then I start recalling the difficulty of making the film, the joy of making the film, and the laughter I shared with everybody. Memories are tickled by seeing the movie and hearing the music. I remember the things Leonard Nimoy and I shared trying to rewrite the dialogue. I recall talking to the director and being so impressed by him. The gestalt of the whole movie is aroused by seeing the opening and hearing the music. Music evokes emotion in memory far more than anything else.
Q: How have you seen “Star Trek” music evoke emotion in fans?
A: I have seen people weep from this music, and you will see people weep during some of these touching moments during the concert. You will see people laugh and cry, because the emotion that's induced by the music is so profound.
