A huge music event is set to take place on the South Coast this coming weekend. Organizers say that for only the second time ever, the blockbuster movie “Titanic” is going to be shown on a giant outdoor screen with a live orchestra and singers. It’s one of the kickoff events for the New West Symphony’s new season.
Composer James Horner’s epic soundtrack is one of the stars of the movie. The Academy Award winning composer tragically died in a Ventura County plane crash in 2015. His wife, Sarah Horner, will be a part of this weekend’s special event.
She says he relished the chance to create “Titanic’s” soundtrack, but at the time he had no idea how big a hit it would become.
Horner did music for more than 100 movies, including “A Beautiful Mind,” “Braveheart,” “Apollo 13,” and “Avatar.” He received 10 Academy Award nominations. But, both of his wins for “Titanic”: “Best Original Dramatic Score,” and “Best Original Song” for “My Heart Will Go On, ” which he co-wrote with Will Jennings.
Horner says she’s amazed at how that song still lives on today. She says it’s bizarre to be in a store, or restaurant and to hear it in the background.
Horner says living in the Santa Monica Mountains, they were able to avoid much of the media attention connected with the blockbuster. But, she says he was dismayed that after winning the Academy Awards, he couldn’t enjoy some of his favorite distractions like going to an electronics store to window shop.
The “Titanic Live” event this weekend comes on the 4th anniversary of the composer’s death. Horner says while having his music didn’t help with the loss at first, she considers it to be a blessing now.
“Titanic Live” will take place Saturday night at William Rolland Stadium, on the Cal Lutheran Campus in Thousand Oaks. The movie will be projected on a giant LED screen. The New West Symphony will perform the soundtrack live, with its 130 musicians accompanied by singers.
Among those performing is horn player Jim Thatcher, who was a friend of the late composer and performed on the Titanic soundtrack.
The entire three hour plus movie will be shown, with an intermission. Tickets for the event are available through Ticketmaster.
