Coldplay's world tour concerts commence with the melody of John Williams' E.T. theme. The reason behind this musical choice remains unexplained.
In an extraordinary fusion of music and cinema, Coldplay's 'Music of the Spheres' World Tour is set to captivate audiences at Wembley Stadium over the next ten days. The tour, named after the band's recent album, features a special collaboration with Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela.
This renowned orchestra, comprising 180 members and trained through El Sistema, a publicly funded music education program, has been on a global journey as part of their 50th anniversary celebration. Their residency with Coldplay marks the culmination of this journey, taking them from the iconic concert halls of Caracas to the stage of Wembley.
The orchestra, who are UNESCO Artists for Peace, will be supporting Coldplay during their concerts, including the one at Wembley Stadium in London in 2025. Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, has been an outspoken admirer of Dudamel's work, expressing gratitude for the joy it has brought.
The tour's opening is a nod to Coldplay's creative inspiration from Steven Spielberg's films, including E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The show commences with John Williams' orchestral theme from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which is also the composition that starts the concerts.
The show at Wembley Stadium is designed to be a journey, as Martin describes, "a journey traveling outwards into the unknown to then come home having learned something new." The theme is reflected in the visual effects on stage, which depict an intergalactic launch.
The album Music of the Spheres is set in a fictional solar system with planets representing different musical styles and emotional states. The tour show is split into four acts over two hours, mirroring this celestial structure.
The concert promises to be an out-of-this-world experience, with the combination of Coldplay's music, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra's enchanting melodies, and the theme's immersive narrative. For those attending, it's an opportunity to embark on a musical journey beyond the ordinary.
For more information about the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra's achievements, including their record-breaking performance of Tchaikovsky, read this article.
