Howard Shore, Oscar Winner and Opera Composer

Wow. What an event. Mr. Howard Shore is in Paris, for the rehearsals and the Premiere of his first opera, based on the George Langelaan’s novel, commissioned by the Los Angeles Opera and the Châtelet.
Mr Shore went to the Institut de France and the Canal Académie studios for a very fascinating broadcast.

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Do I really need to introduce Howard Shore's carreer? Let's just have a look on his official website, www.howardshore.com, to read his brilliant resumé:

Howard Shore is among the most respected, honored and active film composers and music conductors at work today. Shore's work creates a presence so innovative and original that it forever bears his unique creative stamp. Setting the standard for evocative and expressive film scores, Shore creates music that is instantly recognized and resonates long past the life of the film.
Shore began his career as a founding member of the group Lighthouse, with whom he recorded and toured from 1969 to 1972. He then went on to serve as the original Musical Director of Saturday Night Live. He conducted the live broadcasts from 1975 to 1980. At the same time, Shore began establishing his reputation collaborating with David Cronenberg on his groundbreaking films. To date, Shore has scored 12 Cronenberg films, including The Fly, Dead Ringers, Naked Lunch, A History of Violence, and Eastern Promises.

Shore continues to distinguish himself with a wide range of projects, from Martin Scorsese’s The Departed, The Aviator, Gangs of New York and After Hours to Tim Burton’s Ed Wood; Jonathan Demme's The Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia to Chris Columbus' Mrs. Doubtfire. Shore’s work with Peter Jackson on The Lord of the Rings trilogy stands as his most towering achievement to date. A partial list of awards for this masterpiece of modern cinema tells the story. In 2002, Shore won his first Oscar for Best Score and a Grammy Award for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Following another Grammy Award for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Shore was honored with two Oscars, two Golden Globes and his third and fourth Grammy Awards for his score for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Best Song for "Into the West."

Shore remains true to his artistic vision on one extraordinary project after another. The National Board of Review, Recording Academy Honors, The Hollywood Foreign Press, The Broadcast Film Critics, Chicago Film Critics, The British Academy of Film And Television Arts, Canada's Genie Award, Belgium's World Soundtrack Award, New York's Gotham Award, and The Saturn Award for Science Fiction are just some of the institutions that have heaped praise on Shore's music, but it is in the response of fans around the world that the truest measure of his music’s magic can be seen. The soundtracks for The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King have sold more than six million copies worldwide. British radio station Classic FM named it the ‘Best Film Soundtrack of All Time’ for five consecutive years. Where it matters most—in the hearts of his fans—Howard Shore has made a singular and enduring impact.

Mr. Shore presents The Fly ( La Mouche, sung in english) his first opera a the Théâtre du Châtelet, directed by one of his work companion, David Cronenberg, and conducted by Placido Domingo. Opera composing is the subject of our meeting. We discuss about film music composing - a way to the opera ? -, the musical language he choosed for The Fly, his special musical skills, the differences beetween the opera and the Cronenberg's movie; he delivers his thoughts about composing an opera today, and about Opera now, ... We had a lot of chat subjects !

And Mr. Shore is a such gentleman, a such kind and smart person - as often the really gifted and talented artists are, isn't it ? - he played his part wonderfully, for our biggest pleasure and contentment. As you will hear, Mr. Shore is just captivating.
After this so fantastic moment, we went to visit the Institut. First, Mr. Shore discovered The Coupole, then the Grande Salle des Séances. Then, we went to the Institut de France Library, Mrs Mireille Pastoureau's kingdom (she is General Curator and Manager of the Library). Mrs Pastoureau shown to Mr. Shore some of the musical treasures of the library, original manuscript scores from the Fine Arts Academy musicians (Cherubini, Saint-Saëns), or from the famous musical Roma Prize contest (Debussy). Of course, our indiscreet mikes were there ... and got some Shore's personals notations. Ending our little journey to the Institut, Mr. Jean Tulard, meeting Mr. Shore, told his best wishes for The Fly premiere - with an ultimate (and funny) formula.

Thanks, Mr. Shore. You gave us a wonderful moment.
And now, let's go to enjoy The Fly !

Écoutez sur Canal Académie le baryton Laurent Alvaro et le scientifique Jean-Antoine Lepesant
- Laurent Alvaro et The Fly Opera
- The Fly et Jean-Antoine Lepesant