OSR: Halloween film concert

Ernst van Tiel conductor

Psycho (1960) by Alfred Hitchcock
Music by Bernard Herrmann

Age recommandation: 12+

Prepare for an exhilarating experience with Bernard Herrmann’s score for Psycho, cinematic masterpiece by the king of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. Known for its intense darkness, this film has viewers on the edge of their seats as it unveils the haunting depiction of a troubled young man, skillfully portrayed by Anthony Perkins. In their fourth collaboration, legendary Hitchcock granted the composer carte blanche. Unfortunately, the tight budget was not so expansive and denied him access to a full symphony orchestra. Surprisingly, this constraint proved to be most beneficial; Hermann’s decision to use solely strings aligns perfectly with the stark black and white visuals. Nowhere is this more evident than in the iconic “shower scene”, where Herrmann’s piercing music intensifies the gravity of the murderer’s fatal act. Herrmann’s genius extends beyond conventional film music. His use of dissonant harmonies, ostinatos, minimalism, and harmonic structures represents a revolutionary departure from the romanticism prevalent in Hollywood at the time.