The Snowman- RSNO

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Growing up in the McSloy household, the annual screening of Raymond Briggs The Snowman was a huge part of Christmas.  I have an autistic brother and since it was originally shown on Channel 4 he had a ritual to ensure that he squeezed the maximum enjoyment from this festive favourite.  He would make sure the curtains were closed tight, turn all the lights in the house off, then hand out a selection of his Christmas chocolates to the family before informing us of his strictly enforced "no talking" policy.  We would then settle in and let the music and animation wash over us.  

RSNO- SnowmanIt's now an unbelievable 35 years since that first Channel 4 screening and I am sitting in Perth Concert Hall with my girlfriend Jo waiting for a really special screening accompanied by the RSNO.  Although I must have seen The Snowman twenty times at this point, I have to admit that I'm a little excited.  We have already been treated to a performance of Malcolm Arnolds "The Holy and the Ivy Suite" replete with conductor Christopher Bell looking particularly festive in a sparkly sequined black dinner jacket and impossibly shiny red patent leather shoes.

We are informed that this is going to be a full-fat screening, which means that we will get the film on the big screen, the live orchestral accompaniment, live narration from Millie Innes plus a recreation of Aled Jones beautiful treble part on "Walking in the Air" by soloist Tom Marland.  The lights dim (Ewan would approve) and the opening music strikes up.  

I've seen a couple of movies with a live musical score before (including RSNO accompanying Psycho) and it really is one of the best immersive ways to enjoy a film.  A couple of minutes in and I'm totally transported back to being a little kid.  The animation has aged so well and looks as amazing as it did in the eighties and the swirling strings are so nostalgic and lush.  It really is a charming story and the elements of humour still hit the spot, particularly the bit where the Snowman swaps his nose for increasingly ridiculous pieces of fruit before settling on his original tangerine nose.  I think that tangerine is one of the reasons that the design of the Snowman has been so enduring.  I really don't think a Snowman with a carrot for a nose would have been so loveable.

Soon the little boy and our icy hero are making a break for it on a stolen motorbike (I can see the Daily Mail headline now) to the strains of madcap It's the moment everyone has been waiting for: "Walking in the Air" chase music.  Before long things really take flight, the moment everyone has been waiting for: "Walking in the Air".  I realise that the young man singing the Aled Jones part has been sitting on the stage for the last minutes waiting to sing, that must be so nerve-wracking but he doesn't show it and soon he's singing like a little angel.  He has such a pure voice, the sustain he gets on the long notes is amazing and I thought he even seemed to recreate the Welsh burr at certain points.  I always loved the little refrain after the first verse and it's really clever the way the drums kick in when they fly past the window of an office party where people are dancing.

The little Snowman jig that plays while the Snowmen from around the World do a dance that looks suspiciously like "Strip the Willow" is another musical highlight and I'd completely forgotten that there is a little cameo from Father Christmas.  Before long the little boy is waking up to find that his new best friend has melted.  I'd forgotten how devasted I was when I first saw this and it really is a dark and touching moment for what is a children's Christmas short and watching it as an adult it occurs to me that it's really all about the end of innocence.

During the interval, we meet up with our friends Rachel and Dave.  Rachel is keen that when I write my review that I treat The Snowman with the gravitas it deserves. "This is serious McSloy, I've just lost a friend, you've got to write that".  This impassioned plea was only slightly undercut by a case of gin induced hiccups.

RSNO- Stars at ChristmasIn the second half conductor, Christopher Bell has changed into a second seasonal suit, this one is an amazing red wrapping paper ensemble topped off with shiny white patent leather shoes.  He looks like Biggins with a baton, or like someones tried to gift wrap Leonard Bernstein.  The rest of the Orchestra are all wearing varying degrees of festive garb from Christmas jumpers to a full-blown reindeer suit (although the kid behind me is sure it's Chewbacca!).  The violin section is even wearing printed Christopher Bell masks which clearly takes him by surprise.

There then follows a festive Jukebox of some of the best Christmas music with plenty of chances to sing along.  It starts with a Christmas festival overture that takes in Silent Night, Joy to the World, Deck the Halls and The Last Noel, although they seem have forgotten to include "Merry Christmas Everyone" by Shaking Stevens.  I'm sure this was just an oversight and they will remember to include it next year.

This all pales in comparison to the best song of the evening, the amazing "Penguin Song".  Conductor Christopher Bell tipped the Perth crowd into audience participation overdrive and soon we were all on our feet (kids, mums and dads, old ladies... even McSloy's) singing along and penguinating (dancing like a penguin).  In the row, in front of me, I even spy Small City Big Personality's own Rhona recommends and her pal doing their best penguin impersonations. 

 

 

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