Project Description

PLANET EARTH II LIVE IN CONCERT

@ Perth Arena

27/04/18

(Live Review)

Reviewer: Melanie D Griffiths

The world can feel like a very small place as we live our lives in a virtual bubble of family, work and geography. Planet Earth II Live In Concert is a must-see immersive experience that breaks through those walls to show us that the world and its inhabitants are more wondrous than we would normally give credit to.

Produced from stunning footage from the documentary Planet Earth II which was produced by BBC Studio’s acclaimed Natural History Unit, and was filmed over three years using the latest in film technology to truly bring the viewer into places that zoos never could. Accompanied by the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Vanessa Scammell, and live narrated by Eric Bana the concert created a mesmerising experience that glowed with empathy.

For a show that aimed to bring the audience into these animal’s world, the set up also created an intimate space (a rare thing at the Perth Arena) by setting the stage halfway on the floor of the Arena. Unfortunately having a smaller capacity apparently translated in only two open bars and food vendors leading to lines longer than a hummingbird’s beak.

The show proceeded in several parts, from the determined mating rituals of sloths in Madagascar, to penguins hurling themselves into the stormy seas in Antarctica, to North American grizzly bears who just can’t seem to reach that itch – it was breathtaking vision. But moreover what the crew managed to achieve was to reveal the subject’s sparkling personalities  which brimmed with an innate sense of survival and a relatable humorous tone all beautifully filmed with finesse that never feels intrusive.

The score also has much to do with this and if you were going to have a composer you couldn’t do much better than Oscar winner Hans Zimmer, in addition with Jacob Shea and Jasha Klebe. Zimmer who is renowned for some of Hollywood’s most emotionally epic scores like Blade Runner 2049, Interstellar and The Lion King, has an almost divine sense of composition that marries up like a perfect partner to the footage.

Take for example a section which focuses on a pride of lionesses who roam the deserts of Namibia searching for food. Discovering a lone giraffe, the pride gives chase and Zimmer’s evocative score raises the the stakes even more leaving the audience on the edge of their seat. It’s as thrilling and compelling as any chase scene in any movie you’ve seen.

The only hiccup is the flow between each section as one ends, the audience waited for Bana to walk on stage, deliver his narration only to then wait for him to leave. It was a minor beat between his narration before the symphony begun again but the story would be better served to have him appear on stage more seamlessly.

The WA Symphony Orchestra was simply put stunning. Under conductor Scammell’s baton, the orchestra brought the film life, sweeping up the audience in a performance that made you believe that God is real. With it’s orchestral choir, the tension building from the strings, the rumbling pulse of the drums arriving to a precipice between life and death and the primal urge to survive.

Planet Earth II is a concert that everyone, of every age should see and would be better for it. It brings an awareness to the viewer how beautiful this world and it inhabitants are. In a time when climate change is erroneously challenged and with a greater awareness to the ethical treatment of animals, one clear thing is revealed; we, humans, are merely the custodians for this world and we have a responsibility to ensure every creature great and small is given the opportunity to flourish.

4.5 Stars

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