One of the most beloved films of all time, there’s something in Casablanca for literally everyone. Action, romance, drama, gripping plot, timeless themes, fantastic acting, sweeping music, etc, etc. yes, there’s a reason why this film has endured for decades. Yet one element lives on perhaps even grander that the story, its plot or characters; Max Steiner’s musical score. Equally as iconic as the film itself, hum a few bars of his “As Time Goes By” infused theme and you can easily recall countless scenes from this classic gem.
As great as it is though, there’s only so much you can get from Max Steiner’s score watching the film. To get the full impact of Steiner’s work there’s only one to experience it…in a live symphony hall. So what better place to listen to it in Dallas than at the Meyerson Sympony Center?
Under the command of seasoned conductor Richard Kaufman the Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Casablanca as part of their Pops Series productions. They invite you to relive the classic film, which is elevated to new intensity when the DSO perform the famous original music soundtrack live as the movie plays with dialogue on a large screen above the stage.
To get an idea of what to expect, I sat down with Richard Kaufman to talk about conducting Max Steiner’s amazing music. What you’ll see is a glimpse into the life of this Hollywood icon and extremely well-rounded musician as Richard takes us breezily through his endlessly fascinating career (I implore you to read up on him). From 20th Century Fox to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer he’s seen everything you can see behind the studio gates and knows everyone from Tom Hanks and Carroll O’Connor to John Williams and James Newton Howard.
Richard is an absolute delight to speak with trust me, he’s as friendly and knowledgeable in person as he is in this video. You may not recognize his name but once he starts talking you’ll know exactly everyone and everything he’s talking about…
CASABLANCA with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra runs April 5th – 7th. Click here for ticketing information and enjoy the show!!
