I’ve always gotten a real charge from seeing classical music played live. And so it was with great happiness and anticipation that I went to see the MSO last night, as they were playing the score of the Lord of the Rings.

I got an even bigger thrill (and surprise) when I saw Howard Shore, the composer of the Oscar-winning score, step onto the stage to direct. I had no idea he would be there, let alone lead the orchestra!

And then the lights went dim, and after a few introductory bars, swelling ponderously and gradually, the thin and eerie violin theme of the Ring was heard. And I was a blubbering mess, incoherent with pleasure for the next three hours.

The order in which the various movements were played followed the story perfectly, and as a real fan, it was a wonderful treat to relive the story again through its music. It’s often a cliché to note how evocative music is, but last night, it was simple rapture.