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Just when you thought Harry Potter couldn't get any more magical, fanciful and just plain *amazing,* the franchise has been taken to an entirely new level with the Harry Potter Film Concert Series.

Last weekend, conductor, composer and series creator Justin Freer conducted the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in the series' second tour stop. The show is one part film, one part concert and altogether a goose bump-inducing experience. 

But how exactly does the concert work? Well, it's simple really. Much like any theater-going experience, the film—in this case, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone—is projected onto a large screen. But there's no music within the film. Below that screen sits a symphony orchestra who play every piece of music from the first flash of the Warner Bros. logo to the final name in the credits.

This live music aspect creates an entirely new movie experience. At first, it's mesmerizing to watch these iconic songs being played in front of you. You truly realize just how important of a role the music plays in the film and, in turn, the pieces of the film that aren't scored become much more pronounced and purposeful. At times, though, the seamlessness of the music and the film becomes nothing short of enchanting and it's as if the symphony orchestra isn't even there.

All around, it's an amazing sight to see and hear. For those who did not have the opportunity to watch the film in a theater with an audience, this is a fab way to do so. And that's just what Justin hopes audiences take away from the concert.

"I hope we can tell the story of Harry Potter in a way that no other experience out there can tell the story of Harry Potter," Justin shared. "I hope people come away with a newfound appreciation of just how powerful film music can be for a picture."

If you can't attend, don't fret. Though the tour is hitting just seven cities from August until January, more stops will be announced soon. Interested in seeing the rest of the Harry Potter films performed in the same fashion? Justin shared with GL that over the next 5-8 years, he will be developing the other 7 films nto concerts as well—we can't wait!

Will you attend the Harry Potter Concert Series in a city near you? Are you excited for the other films to be developed into concerts?

Photo credit: Prisilia and Dayani.

by Sydney Adamson | 8/11/2016