December 18, 2008 — New York, NY — Devoted fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic The Lord of the Rings have read the books, they’ve seen Peter Jackson’s Academy® Award-winning films, and now they will have a chance to experience composer Howard Shore’s Academy® and Grammy®-winning score to The Fellowship of the Ring live at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, October 9th and Saturday October 10th. For this extraordinary event, 300 musicians—a 75-piece orchestra and a 225-member choir—have been gathered to perform the complete score to 2001’s The Fellowship of the Ring live with the motion picture on a massive screen towering above the stage. 

Switzerland’s 21st Century Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Ludwig Wicki and featuring The Collegiate Chorale, the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, and vocal soloist Kaitlyn Lusk, will perform Shore’s epic score synchronized to picture. Shore will introduce each evening’s performances, which take place at 7:30 p.m., in a pre-concert lecture with Doug Adams, author of The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films, and will be available to greet fans at additional events scheduled throughout the weekend. 

This once-in-a-lifetime, family-friendly event, held at the most prestigious concert venue in the world, is a milestone affair not to be missed by fans of The Lord of the Rings and classical music lovers everywhere! Tickets go on-sale Friday, December 19th, at noon, and make the perfect holiday gift for a family outing over the Columbus Day weekend. Don’t miss it! 

Tickets available online at: www.radiocity.com and www.ticketmaster.com

Tickets to The Fellowship of the Ring at Radio City Music Hall are available beginning on the first day of sale through Ticketmaster Charge By Phone and all Ticketmaster Outlets, and beginning on the second day of sale at the Garden and Music Hall Box Office. All tickets purchased for Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall events contain a Facility Charge. TicketMaster purchases are also subject to their service charge. The telephone number for Madison Square Garden Event and Ticket Information is (212) 465-MSG1. The Group Sales number is (212) 465-6080. The telephone number for the Madison Square Garden Disabled Services department is (212) 465-6034; for the Radio City Music Hall Disabled Services department, (212) 465-6115 for tickets and information. The TicketMaster information and TicketMaster Charge by Phone number is (212) 307-4111.

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This is really big, folks! It will be a weekend-long series of events celebrating Howard Shore's work in Tolkien's world. Nothing quite like this has been done before. Particularly relevant to readers of this blog, although we still have some details to work out it's not yet official, the current plan is to release both The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films book and The Master Box box set--including The Rarities Archives--at this event. And yes, we intend to do so in high style... with a little long expected release party! Many of you have been here with me since this all started. It would be wonderful to have you there with me and the end of this thing!

Spread the word and make your plans--I would love to see you all there!

-Doug