Fantasy artist Alan Lee, who won an Oscar for his work on The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King will be a special guest at Interaction, the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention, which takes place in Glasgow this August. Mr Lee, who appears in cooperation with the Tolkien 2005 conference, will attend the convention on Saturday 6 August and Sunday 7 August. [More]
Day: March 19, 2005
Alan Lee to be special Guest at Interaction – Oscar®-winning artist worked as conceptual artist on Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.
Fantasy artist Alan Lee, who won an Oscar for his work on The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King will be a special guest at Interaction, the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention, which takes place in Glasgow this August. Mr Lee, who appears in cooperation with the Tolkien 2005 conference, will attend the convention on Saturday 6 August and Sunday 7 August.
“Alan Lee’s artwork has been associated with J.R.R. Tolkien for two decades, from his inspired illustrations for the centenary edition of the books to his acclaimed work on the movie trilogy,” remarked Interaction Co-Chair Colin Harris. “It is entirely appropriate therefore that we should invite him to be a special guest at Interaction in the same year that we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of the final volume of the trilogy. I would especially like to thank Harper Collins for their help in arranging Alan Lee’s participation.”
A native of London, Alan Lee studied at the Ealing School of Art. After graduation he became a freelance illustrator doing mostly book covers. He came to greater public attention in 1978, however, when in collaboration with Brian Froud, he published Faeries. To celebrate the centenary of J.R.R. Tolkien’s birth, Harper Collins commissioned Lee to produce 50 paintings to illustrate a special hardcover edition of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, thus beginning his association with the author. He subsequently illustrated Tolkien’s Ring by David Day and the 1997 edition of The Hobbit. His next book, The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook, is due out from Harper Collins in September 2005.
Lee spent over six years working with Peter Jackson on the three Lord of the Rings movies, creating the distinctive look of Middle Earth. The three movies won the Hugo Award, Science Fiction’s highest honours, in 2002, 2003 and 2004. In 2004 he received an Oscar for his work as part of the art direction team on The Return of the King. He has also worked with Terry Jones on Erik the Viking and with Ridley Scott on Legend.
Interaction is the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention and takes place in the Scottish Exhibition and Convention Centre from 4 to 8 August 2005. [More]
Vancouver-born JOHN HOWE, whose books and images of Tolkien’s world including Gandalf, Gollum, Orcs, Black Riders, so inspired film director Peter Jackson that he hired him to bring The Lord of the Rings trilogy to life, will do two exclusive signings for his book Myth & Magic-The Art of John Howe, published by Harper Collins: Chapters Kitchener, Friday, April 22nd at 7:00 p.m. and World’s Biggest Bookstore, Toronto, Saturday, April 23 at 2:00 p.m. [More]
MEET JOHN HOWE CONCEPTUAL ARTIST LORD OF THE RINGS FILM TRILOGY CHAPTERS, KITCHENER, FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 7:00 P.M. WORLD’S BIGGEST BOOKSTORE, TORONTO, SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2:00 P.M.
Vancouver-born JOHN HOWE, whose books and images of Tolkien’s world including Gandalf, Gollum, Orcs, Black Riders, so inspired film director Peter Jackson that he hired him to bring The Lord of the Rings trilogy to life, will do two exclusive signings for his book Myth & Magic-The Art of John Howe, published by Harper Collins: Chapters Kitchener, Friday, April 22nd at 7:00 p.m. and World’s Biggest Bookstore, Toronto, Saturday, April 23 at 2:00 p.m.
Howe, who lives in Switzerland, was commissioned to design the cover for the yearly Tolkien calendar in 1987. Without his knowledge, these and subsequent illustrations of Tolkien characters and stories were used by film director, Peter Jackson to help generate interest and investors in Hollywood for the production of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy! In 1997 he was called by Peter Jackson to be the visual concepts designer for the films that went on to win 11 Academy Awards among other honours.
John Howe’s images are also part of Canadian Howard Shore’s magnificent The Lord of the Rings Symphony that will transport audiences into Tolkien’s world with live performances by the
Kitchener -Waterloo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Markus Huber and a chorus of more than 250 voices from the Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Choir, Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Youth Choir, Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Children’s Choir and Consort Caritatis under the artistic direction of Howard Dyck. Performances will take place Saturday, June 4, 7:30 p.m. at Centre in the Square, Kitchener and at Roy Thomson Hall, Sunday, June 5, Toronto at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Tickets to all concerts can be purchased at the John Howe signings.
John Howe’s work has been on exhibit in several European countries and commands a cult-like following (john-howe.com) Harper Collins has published his maps, posters, calendars, postcards and book covers of Tolkien’s world for many years. Most recently, the French edition of John Howe: Artbook with preface by actor Viggo Mortensen, was published by Nestiveqnen and producers, Werner Aellen and Gretchen Jordan-Bastow will release a documentary film on John Howe, Lord of the Brush to be aired on Bravo! later in 2005.
Chapters Kitchener is located at: 135 Gateway Park Dr. (519) 650-2553
World’s Biggest Bookstore Toronto is located at: 20 Edward Street (416) 977-7009
Canadian Howard Shore’s magnificent The Lord of the Rings Symphony will transport audiences into Tolkien’s world with live performances by the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Markus Huber and a chorus of more than 250 voices from the Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Choir, Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Youth Choir, Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Children’s Choir and Consort Caritatis under the artistic direction of Howard Dyck. Performances will take place Saturday, June 4, 7:30 p.m. at Centre in the Square, Kitchener and at Roy Thomson Hall, Sunday, June 5, Toronto at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. [More]
THE KITCHENER WATERLOO PHILHARMONIC CHOIR SCORES THE GOLD ‘RING’ WITH PRESENTATION OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS SYMPHONY PERFORMED LIVE AT CENTRE IN THE SQUARE, KITCHENER JUNE 4 AND ROY THOMSON HALL, TORONTO JUNE 5
Canadian Howard Shore’s magnificent The Lord of the Rings Symphony will transport audiences into Tolkien’s world with live performances by the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Markus Huber and a chorus of more than 250 voices from the Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Choir, Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Youth Choir, Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Children’s Choir and Consort Caritatis under the artistic direction of Howard Dyck. Performances will take place Saturday, June 4, 7:30 p.m. at Centre in the Square, Kitchener and at Roy Thomson Hall, Sunday, June 5, Toronto at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
“This is a real coup for us,” says Artistic Director, Howard Dyck. “Although this kind of undertaking is normally tackled only by large symphonic organizations, the Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Choir is undaunted by this latest challenge. Indeed, we are the first choral organization in Canada to mount a production of Howard Shore’s monumental score.
”In addition to presenting this important musical work locally to area students and to hundreds of Tolkien fans, we will also be consolidating our Toronto presence where we have performed every year since 2001. The Lord of the Rings Symphony will enhance the KW Philharmonic Choir’s reputation as one of the most dynamic choral organizations in the country.”
The Lord of the Rings Symphony is Howard Shore’s compilation in six movements of his two-time Academy-award winning score for the popular and epic movie trilogy based on Tolkien’s internationally beloved fantasy novels. It has been performed around the world to critical acclaim (most recently in Moscow). The Symphony follows the chronology of the story-telling in the films and is accompanied by projected images featuring the original, conceptual artwork of Canadian illustrator, John Howe and his colleague Alan Lee, which inspired the majestic imagery of the film.
Says Shore “My initial inspiration over the four years it took to write The Lord of the Rings Symphony was always Tolkien — his books were always open on my desk. There is a real emotional attachment to it – not just from the performers but from audiences all over the world.”
“Anywhere in the world it’s been performed- Atlanta, Chicago, London, Taipei- it’s all been done locally,” says Shore. “To me that’s the real joy of it, awakening interest in symphony orchestras.”
The orchestra will provide all the musical thrills of the score with an array of unusual instruments including metal bell plates, Irish bodhrans, Japanese Taiko drums, Tibetan gongs, and an Arabic Ney flute, to name a few. Centuries of stylistic tendencies are treated with equal respect, creating a uniquely all-encompassing vision. Singing in multiple languages including the Tolkien-spawned languages Quenya, Sindarin, Khuzdul, Adunaic, Black Speech, and Old and Modern English is a massive undertaking for the Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Choir.
Maestro Markus Huber based in Germany and Bulgaria, has conducted The Lord of the Rings Symphony in Chicago, Detroit, and Salt Lake City and worked with Howard Shore directly on the Taiwan and New Zealand productions.
Born in Toronto, the 57- year -old Howard Shore has composed the scores for over 60 feature films and recently received a Golden Globe award for The Aviator. He is currently working on the music for King Kong, shooting in New Zealand in June and directed by Peter Jackson.
Tickets to The Lord of the Rings Symphony are available as follows:
Kitchener: Centre in the Square
Saturday, June 4, 2005, 7:30 pm
Box office: 519-578-1570 toll free: 800-265-8977
Ticket prices: $60/$65/$70
http://www.centre-square.com
Toronto: Roy Thomson Hall
Sunday, June 5, 2005
2 pm and 7 pm
Ticket prices: $45 – $85
Roy Thomson Hall Box office: 416-872-4255
http://www.roythomson.com/boxoffice.cfm
or through Ticketmaster 416-870-8000
http://www.ticketmaster.ca or at all Ticketmaster outlets
Principal Sponsor Kitchener: DALSA Corporation
With support from Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
The Lord of the Rings Symphony concerts in Kitchener and Toronto are produced by John Cripton and Linda Sword, Great World Artists.