On Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd December at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, the Hallé orchestra will present a special screening of Mimi and the Mountain Dragon with live accompaniment by the full forces of the orchestra, Hallé Choir and young voices from the Hallé Youth Training Choir.
The Hallé Choir and Children’s Choir recorded the vocals for the original soundtrack of the film which aired in December 2019 on the BBC and the Hallé is delighted to be performing the soundtrack live with its choirs again in this special Christmas screening which precedes the orchestra’s annual performance of The Snowman.
Set in the mountains of Switzerland, Mimi and the Mountain Dragon is a popular children’s book by Michael Morpurgo in which Mimi finds a baby dragon in the woodshed and begins on a perilous journey to return it to its mother.
The book has been adapted for screen by Owen Sheers with narration by Michael Morpurgo himself and illustrations by Emily Gravett. The breathtaking score for full symphony orchestra was written by Academy Award-winning composer, Rachel Portman OBE. The film was produced by Leopard Pictures (part of Argonon) and Factory Create, Rachel Portman’s music is published by Chester Music (part of the Wise Music Group).
Rachel Portman OBE said: “I am thrilled the Hallé will be performing Mimi and the Mountain Dragon live to picture. Together with the orchestra and choir, the Hallé Youth Training Choir will embellish the action on screen with pots and pans for the drumming of the dragon. The performance will also include new material written for the choir. From the beginning, Mimi was conceived to be performable in concert as the storytelling is musical throughout so it’s wonderful to have the Hallé bringing it to audiences live with the film this Christmas.”
Mimi and the Mountain Dragon is available on BBC iPlayer until December 29th.