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'Breathtaking' Houston candlelit concert celebrates 100 years of Warner Bros.' most iconic film scores and TV tunes

Candlelight: 100 Years of Warner Bros. concert

'Candlelight: 100 Years of Warner Bros.' showcases Warner Bros. most memorable tunes in Houston.

Photo via Fever Entertainment

Quick — name some favorite movies. Chances are, many of them were produced by the iconic Warner Bros. Studios, which turns 100 this year. As expected with one of the biggest and most influential film studios in cinematic history, this year will see myriad anniversary celebrations, including one here in Houston.

“Candlelight: 100 Years of Warner Bros.” toasts the studio's century in cinema with a concert of greatest hits from some of its most influential, groundbreaking, and popular films and TV shows.

The showcase of scores including The Lord of The Rings, The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, Harry Potter, Batman, and even Friends will be performed by Listeso String Quartet on Saturday, April 28 (7 pm and 9:15 pm) at the Lone Star Flight Museum (11551 Aerospace Ave) in what producers promise will be a "breathtaking" candlelit setting.

Tickets start at $45 and can be purchased here.

Houston was one of the first-announced 25 cities worldwide taking part in the commemorative international concert series, including New York, London, Paris, Singapore, Milan, São Paulo, and Mexico City. More cities have since been added for a total of 100 worldwide.

Instantly recognizable venues across the globe were chosen for their "historic nature or unique character, from iconic cathedrals, theaters, museums and gardens, with breathtaking candlelit settings," per Warner Bros. press materials. Production partner Fever Entertainment transforms each destination into a candlelit concert.

“The “Candlelight: 100 Years of Warner Bros.” concert series is a true celebration of storytelling, music, and creativity,” said Peter van Roden, SVP, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment, in a statement. “From the musicals that we know and love to the iconic films and television series that have shaped generations, Warner Bros. has long been a leader in entertainment, and we are thrilled to bring this unforgettable event to our fans and music lovers from around the world to honor this momentous occasion.”

By the numbers, Warner Bros. boasts one of the most prestigious and valuable content catalogs in the world. Its more than 145,000 hours of programming includes 12,500 feature films and 2,400 television programs comprised of more than 150,000 individual episodes.

Warner Bros. is also home to some of pop culture and entertainment's most recognizable franchises, such as Looney Tunes, Wizarding World, DC, Friends, Game of Thrones, Hanna-Barbera, and more.

As for the concert, expect a soaring night of familiar soundtracks, theme songs, and classic tunes, sure to conjure up some of the most memorable scenes in the movies. Think Willy Wonka strolling through his chocolate factory with "Pure Imagination," the chilling theme song from The Exorcist, the singlong charm of A Star is Born, and for some Texas vibes, Selena singing "Dreaming of You."

Here is the full concert lineup, with movie and theme song/score/suite.

The Wizard of Oz - Somewhere Over the Rainbow (1939)

Casablanca - As Time Goes By (1942)

Singin’ in the Rain - Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

A Star is Born - The Man That Got Away (1954)

Scooby Doo - Theme Song (1969)

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - Pure Imagination (1971)

The Exorcist - Theme Song (Tubular Bells) (1973)

Purple Rain - Purple Rain (1984)

Batman - Main Theme (1989)

Friends - I’ll Be There for You (1995)

Selena - Dreaming of You (1997)

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Suite (2001)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Hogwarts’ Anthem (2005)

Inception - Time (2010)

Man of Steel - Flight (2013)

Wonder Woman Suite (2017)

A Star is Born - Shallow (2018)

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“Candlelight: 100 Years of Warner Bros.” will be performed by Listeso String Quartet at 7 pm and 9:15 pm Saturday, April 28 at the Lone Star Flight Museum (11551 Aerospace Ave). Tickets and more can be found here. $45.

Movie Review

Bold drama Anora takes an unconventional look at romance and rebellion

Photo courtesy of Neon

Mikey Madison in Anora.

Writer/director Sean Baker’s filmography is full of films that aim to show stories not typically seen in mainstream movies, ones that often feel so true to life that they can be tough to watch. His latest film, Anora, is similar to his previous content in some ways, but much different in others.

Anora (Mikey Madison), aka Ani, is a stripper/sex worker who works at a club in Brooklyn. Because she can speak Russian, she is assigned to dance for Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), who she discovers is the son of a Russian oligarch. With an unlimited supply of money, he pays Ani for sex and, enjoying spending time with her, for her to pretend to be his girlfriend for a week.

That week sees them do a lot of wild stuff, most notably an impulsive trip to Las Vegas where they — almost as hastily — decide to get married. Their elopement doesn’t stay secret for long, though, with Ivan’s parents especially upset. A trio of henchmen track them down, enlisted by Ivan’s parents to force them to get the marriage annulled at all costs.

Baker is not your typical storyteller, and so even though the film has three distinct acts, they don’t play out in ways that will be familiar or comfortable for many filmgoers. Much of the first act involves Ani in states of undress, either dancing for customers or having sex with Ivan. Although the “rich guy paying for the company of a sex worker” echoes a film like Pretty Woman, the comparison doesn’t really fit, especially because the immature, video game-playing Ivan is about as far from romance as you can get.

Whatever appeal he might have had disappears in the second half of the film when he’s confronted with his parents’ displeasure. It’s here that Baker seems to play with moviegoer expectations the most. With three goons sent to get Ani and Ivan to take back what they’ve done, it feels like Baker is going to go down the typical mob movie road. Instead, what transpires can only be described as an intense farce, with Ani resisting the trio’s efforts with all her might, causing lots of comedic chaos.

What plays out throughout the film, and especially in the final act, is a disparity of wealth. While Ani being willing to have sex with a rich guy who comes into the club could be viewed in multiple ways, it does hint at her need to make money however she can. Conversely, Ivan spends money with abandon and acts accordingly, like someone who will never have a care in the world. After much frivolity, this imbalance hits like a ton of bricks in the film’s final minutes.

Madison, who’s had small but showy roles in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the reboot of Scream, proves herself to be a star in this role. She owns every part of the performance, from the New York accent to the pole dancing, and she is the fire that keeps the film humming. She is especially important because Russian actor Eydelshteyn is only intermittently effective. Special note goes to Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, and Yura Borisov, the three men who come for Ani and Ivan. Each walks the line between drama and comedy especially well.

Taken at face value, Anora could be viewed as a merely titillating and somewhat shallow film. But Baker doesn’t do anything without a purpose, which is why the subtext of the story gives the film its power, with a bravura performance by Madison to put it over the top.

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Anora is now playing in theaters.

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'Breathtaking' Houston candlelit concert celebrates 100 years of Warner Bros.' most iconic film scores and TV tunes

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Movie Review

Bold drama Anora takes an unconventional look at romance and rebellion

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome
Get Houston intel delivered daily.