Ridley Scott’s sci-fi noir masterpiece Blade Runner was reinvigorated with an electrifying live performance of Vangelis’ esteemed synthesiser-led score by The Avex Ensemble at an O2 Apollo Manchester screening on Thursday evening.
A pillar of cinematic storytelling, the cult classic has mesmerised audiences since 1982 with its industrial landscape, dystopian vision of tomorrow, and arresting soundtrack.
But we can’t rely on our memories – and as the theatre warmed up with the gathering of spirited humans eager to slip into the back streets of an alternative 2019 Los Angeles with Harrison Ford’s Richard Deckard, so did the percussionists, string quartet and coveted synthesiser, who took the helm of this experiential ship.
House lights dimmed, stage bulbs flickered red and blue, and The Avex Ensemble transported a sold-out auditorium to a place of trepidation and uncertainty, where nothing is quite as it seems.
Vangelis’ ‘Main Titles’ shook the room with immaculate accuracy and rich and captivating sound as the 2007 cut of the Academy Award-nominated picture rolled on-screen.
Often the music was so intrinsic it was easy to be lost in the dark gloom of Scott’s imagination, forgetting entirely that a live performance was taking place – but a notion of awe imbued whenever eyes fell back to the precise movements of the instrumentalists.
The female vocalist was spellbinding as she rose to deliver the tender ‘Rachael’s Song’.
But the saxophonist illuminated the hopelessness of Deckard and Rachael’s existence during Vangelis’ wistful yet romantic ‘Love Theme’.
As the film drew to its climatic end, the orchestra unleashed its collaborative power to reveal the might of Vangelis’ iconic score in a crescendo that enriched the scenes on screen and exhibited the wild talent and great passion of the individuals who guided us through the film’s soundscape.
Vangelis’ unique work set a precedent for storytelling through sound after its humble conception in his small London flat – The Avex Ensemble proved the majesty of Vangelis with their remarkable talent.
Storytelling as ambitious as Scott’s Blade Runner might be once in a generation, but the artistry of creators like Vangelis make it timeless.
Blade Runner Live at O2 Apollo Manchester (put on by arrangement with Warner Bros.) demonstrates some stories will continue to move us forever, replicant or otherwise.
To check out the orchestra’s other events – including their visit to the Bristol Beacon on 30 September – visit their website.