OSCARS: Live Concert To Feature Nominated Songs, Scores

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tells Deadline that there is no formal announcement at this time, but we have learned that an email went to members of the Academy’s Music Branch today announcing that Oscar-nominated songs and scores will be featured in a live concert for the first time. The nontelevised event will be held February 27 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, three days before the 86th annual Academy Awards ceremony. “A symphony orchestra of Los Angeles studio musicians will perform a suite from each score of up to 10 minutes in length,” Music Branch governors Charles Fox, Arthur Hamilton and David Newman said in the email. “Subject to availability, each original composer will conduct his or her own work. We’re planning for brief onstage conversation with composers and their directors about the process of creating music for motion pictures.” Performers and writers of Oscar-nominated songs are featured during the televised ceremony, but “the musical scores … have not been performed on the Oscars in a fully realized way because of the length of the show”, the statement said. The governors described the concert as a “milestone in Oscar music history” and something that would “hopefully become an annual event”. The Academy said the initiative came directly from the Music Branch, and it had no further comment. Read the full email after the jump:

Dear friends and colleagues,

We’re very excited to announce to the music branch members that the Academy, for the first time, will present a special concert featuring performances of the Oscar-nominated original scores and songs during Oscar Week, on Thursday, February 27, 2014, at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

As you well know, great scores from motion pictures have been performed and recorded by orchestras and cherished by audiences around the world for many years. Similarly, some of the most memorable songs ever written came from motion pictures and have found their way into the public’s hearts and minds.

This past Oscar show featured all five of the nominated songs for the first time in a number of years. That was a welcome return for the importance that original songs have always had in films. The musical scores, however, have not been performed on the Oscars in a fully realized way because of the length of the show.

This concert is truly a milestone in Oscar music history; placing Oscar-nominated music center stage in what will hopefully become an annual event.

A symphony orchestra of Los Angeles studio musicians will perform a suite from each score of up to 10 minutes in length. Subject to availability, each original composer will conduct his/her own work. We’re planning for brief onstage conversation with composers and their directors about the process of creating music for motion pictures.

Regarding the performance of songs, it is our hope that either the original artists or the songwriter(s) will perform their own songs live.

We’ve been working hard to realize this special concert, and we are thankful to our fellow Governors for their dedicated support on this project.

We’ll keep you updated as we progress, and welcome any thoughts that you may have.

Warmest regards,

Charles Fox
Arthur Hamilton
David Newman