The CBSO plays John Williams' scores from across the Star Wars saga, conducted by Michael Seal, to mark the franchise's 50th anniversary.
The CBSO are bringing 50 Years of Star Wars to Symphony Hall on Saturday 23 January 2027, a concert that marks the half-century since the original film first hit screens. At the centre of the programme are the scores John Williams has written for the franchise since its inception, performed by the orchestra and conducted by Michael Seal, with Zeb Soanes presenting.
Seal leads the CBSO on a journey across the saga, starting with the main title and the romantic Across the Stars, then moving into the menacing Revenge of the Sith. The set includes themes from every film in the series, including The Phantom Menace, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. It's a broad sweep of the music, from the early classics to the newer entries, rather than just a handful of the biggest hits.
The performance runs for around two hours with a 20-minute interval. It forms part of the CBSO's 2026-27 season under Music Director Kazuki Yamada, a season that brings together major symphonic journeys, new commissions, international touring and landmark moments alongside epic film scores. This is one of those nights where the music is the main event, with the orchestra taking the lead on themes that have become as famous as the films they came from.
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Tickets are £27.50 to £65.50, and a £4 per-ticket commission is included in every ticket priced over £15. Multi-buy discounts apply, with reduced prices for full-time students, 18-30s, under-18s and eligible benefit recipients. The concert starts at 7:00pm.
