Alexandre Desplat conducts own film music with RPhO

Alexandre Desplat is among the absolute best in contemporary film music. He won two Oscars, for The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Shape of Water, as well as being awarded multiple Golden Globes and Grammy Awards. Currently, Desplat is also nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Score for the Netflix film Frankenstein. For the first time in his career, he is on the podium with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. On Friday 20 and Saturday 21 March, his iconic film music will be heard at De Doelen.

Although the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra has performed his work many times before, this is the first time Desplat himself will conduct his music in Rotterdam. This gives the audience a rare insight into the musical vision of a composer who knows better than anyone how music brings together image, emotion and story. According to Desplat, film music functions as a universal language of emotion.

His oeuvre now includes music for more than 125 films, including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The King's Speech, The Imitation Game and Little Women. Desplat is known for his exceptional speed and precision: he often writes complete film scores within weeks, under high pressure and with great artistic freedom as a prerequisite.

The concerts will feature music from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch, The Shape of Water, The Imitation Game and Godzilla, among others.