Home Alone In Concert Review | The Bridgewater Hall | Manchester
- Frances
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
The iconic McCallister house is looking even grander projected above a live orchestra on the Bridgewater Hall stage. With the symphony performing John William’s nostalgic score, Home Alone in Concert brings the allure of live music to the perfectly crafted Christmas film.
After eight-year-old Kevin McCallister’s (Macaulay Culkin) family forgets to take him on their trip to France, Kevin is forced to defend himself and his home from two fumbling burglars played by Joe Pesci (Harry) and Daniel Stern (Mary). While his four siblings, extended family and mum (Catherine O'Hara) fight to get a flight back home, Kevin’s grinchy Christmas turns into an impressive home improvement project that sees the kid make more changes than an episode of DIY SOS.
Between the discombobulated break-ins, wickedly funny insults thrown at children and a hypnotic score, this much-loved Christmas classic has been blended into a new atmospheric experience. Home Alone is flush with famous and familiar Christmas tracks and unwrapping this holiday gift with a live orchestra and choir turns Chris Columbus’s 1990 film into an irresistible revival. With Christmas fast approaching, the whimsical tracks, Somewhere in My Memory, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and O Holy Night make it feel like the cosiest indulgence.
For anyone who keeps Home Alone high on their Christmas film totem pole, this impeccable, supersized production is a true seasonal treat. The booby-trapped McCallister house is being brought to a new generation, as the orchestra pores over the movie and breathes new life into William’s already rich score. The warming, communal experience is clearly a family affair as the Bridgewater’s sold-out show showcases a crowd of all ages, with many dressed in a Christmas jumper for the occasion.
Live film concerts don’t just frame a story alongside an orchestra, these shows celebrate the classics, delivering to boost the charm and nostalgia of a 35-year-old film that never gets old. Some things do not need to be modernised and this film’s phenomenal score, the energy of a live audience and the story of an accidentally forgotten child are key examples.
Tickets for live cinema events are available through TheBridgewaterHall and Ticketmaster