ACCORDING TO VARIETY THE OCTOBER 9TH AND 10TH JAMES HORNER CONCERT WAS CANCELLED IN LA JUST A WEEK AFTER ITS SPLASHY ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE LA TIMES PROMOTERS CITED INSURMOUNTABLE TECHNICAL AND PRODUCTION PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMBITIOUS PLANS TO TURN THE BOWL INTO A STYLIZED VERSION OF THE DECK OF THE RMS TITANIC. THE TOUR NVER MATERIALIZED IN PART BECAUSE FO HORNERS BUSY SCORING CAREER. SINCE TITANIC HE HAS SCORED DEEP IMPACT MASK OF ZORRO,AND UPCOMING MIGHTY JOE YOUNG. THERE WAS A PREMIERE OF A TITANIC SUITE BY THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA EARLIER THIS YEAR,BUT WAS FORCED TO WITHDRAWAL OF THE MUSIC WHEN TALK SURFACED OF A TITANIC CONCERT TOUR.

-- MICHAEL PITT (XRRG10B@PRODIGY.COM), October 26, 1998

Answers

Well this is just stupid. Firstly because who would care whether or not they got the stage to look like the Titanic. I would have bought a ticket to listen to the music, not for the "special effects". Secondly, why on Earth did he commit himself to doing the concert in the first place if he didn't have the time for it?

-- Emma (dilemma76@hotmail.com), October 28, 1998.

Another possible reason: Does anyone know if Horner does serious composition as well as scoring movies? That is, does he have a sense of integrity about his work? If so, he may have reconsidered this concert on the basis that it would hurt his career. Leonard Bernstein was the only successful composer I can think of to mix the two. And, with due respect, Horner is NOT in Berstein's league. Don't get me wrong, his score for "Titanic" was great movie music. But it is not serious concert music, and could not stand on its own merits for a full program. The paucity of musical ideas, presented over a two-hour program, would make Phillip Glass' most minimalist compositions sound like a Richard Strauss tone poem in comparison. Horner may have been embarrassed by the realization that the shameless commercialism of this artistically meritless concert would have come across much like the Eagles reunion or the recent Rolling Stones tour. Hopefully, he doesn't need the money that badly.

-- Dalton (foo@bar.com), November 02, 1998.

Let's consider this before we critisize Horner for the recent cancellation: He thought of the music for this movie ALL BY HIMSELF and off the top of his head. Imagine trying to do that. He composed an amazing score and we are not one to slam him for the cancellation of just a concert. I mean sure, don't get me wrong, I'm upset too, but this guy is a genious. And I'm not saying you guys are excactly "slamming" him, either. But to think of that whole movie's music - strong, soft, heartbraking or moving, is truly amazing. We could have just had no music at all. I don't think it's quite fair to say he might be embarrassed. I think we should be proud of him. I know I wouldn't want the public to critisize me for such an accomplishment. Who knows, maybe there will be a rescheduling. But, I don't really know. He might not even care - hasn't he got an oscar or two?

-- Kelly (foo@vbar.com), November 02, 1998.

Just to clarify my previous post: I'm not criticizing Horner for not going through with this concert. I'm actually complimenting him for his discretion. His music for Titanic was perfect - for the movie. I still maintain that it can't stand alone as a two-hour program in a concert setting, which apparently was the plan given the "stylized" Titanic sets he would have played in. Horner was wise to disassociate himself from the concert. The resulting "PBS pledge drive" type of commercialized pabulum, a la "Yanni at the Acropolis" or "John Tesh at Wherever" would have hurt his career. As for touring, composers best spend their time composing.

-- Dalton (foo@bar.com), November 03, 1998.

Wrong choice of words. Come to think of it, you're right. But for us dedicated Titanic fans, we could probably make it work. I mean, most of us bought a ticket, right? But I guess we'll never know.

P.S.- "I want to thank you for what you did. Not just for pulling me back, but for your discretion...."

Oh God, look what I've become!.....:-) !!

-- Kelly (foo@bar.com), November 03, 1998.