You could easily call John van der Sluijs the mastermind behind The CineMusic Experience. The idea for this theater production originated with him. Did he already have experience with large orchestras, theaters, performances, and everything that goes with them? Certainly not. But he knew how to gather the right people around him and made his CineMusic dream come true.
When did the idea for The CineMusic Experience come about?
“The idea for The CineMusic Experience started in my car, driving home at the end of the day while listening to my favorite film music by John Williams and Ennio Morricone. I started fantasizing: what would it be like if I could have an orchestra play this and people could hear it live? To me, film music has something magical about it.”
Who was the first person you contacted?
“I first contacted Ruud Luttikhuizen, a pianist I’ve known for a very long time. Together at the kitchen table, we came up with the repertoire: what exactly do we want people to hear? After that, we went looking for musicians who could play it. The first time they came together was very special. All the musicians had already practiced the sheet music at home. Some knew each other already, others didn’t. Henk Ummels, our conductor whom we had involved by then, started with Forrest Gump. I was blown away. It was such a wonderful moment. What we had envisioned came to life right there.”
How did things progress from there?
“Once we realized it was actually possible, we had to figure out what was needed to bring this to an audience. We brought in Paul van der Veer for the marketing side. To help people recognize the music from more than 20 films, we realized that showing film clips in sync would greatly enhance the experience, which is how Foxity came into the picture. Creating film compositions to the rhythm of the music takes a lot of time and energy, but it ensures our visitors experience the images and music to the fullest. Stef Heijnen-Bakker was brought on board for artistic direction. Immediately after, we connected with professional sound and light technicians and sheet music arrangers. And through the conservatory in Utrecht, we managed to recruit young graduate violinists for our CineMusic Orchestra. We gave our first official concerts at the Bullekerk in Zaandam in 2021. That was a success! Not only am I very enthusiastic, but everyone involved is incredibly motivated to go the extra mile every single time.”
What was the first thing you did after those two concerts?
“We agreed that we needed a larger orchestra. An orchestra that can play anything. We already had brass and woodwinds, and now we wanted to take the step toward including violins. We spoke with two top violinists who told us: if you want to do this right, you need 5 first violins, 4 second violins, 3 violas, 2 cellists, and a double bass. The percussion also needed to be expanded and the balance with the winds had to be refined. That’s how we took the steps toward the orchestra we have now with 36 professional musicians. Additionally, we approached René Mioch to handle the presentation of The CineMusic Experience. The first time we met him, he was immediately enthusiastic. He has been presenting the show since 2022, sharing his experiences from the film world. This adds an extra dimension to our concert show.”
How long have you been so crazy about film music?
“My love for film music began in 1990 with the movie Dances with Wolves. I went to the cinema to see it with my wife. Not just the story and the amazing visuals, but also the beautiful music by John Barry really moved me. I was still sitting in the theater when the lights came on. After that day, I went looking for the soundtrack. I eventually found it on CD at the Free Record Shop. Since then, I’ve started listening to more and more film music. That’s how I discovered composers like Hans Zimmer and John Williams, several of whose pieces we now play in the concert show.”
“When I hear the music from Dances with Wolves, I know exactly which scene that piece belongs to. I find it so beautiful. I even went to the United States to visit the areas and the set where the film takes place. That movie triggered something in me. I hope we can share that same feeling with our audience.”
What do you want to achieve with The CineMusic Experience?
“What I love is doing things that other people enjoy too. Preferably together. I want to connect people with the experience we provide. That connection exists behind the scenes between the musicians, the organization, and the technicians. But during the performances, you also see the connection between the orchestra and the visitors, and vice versa. And when I see that the people in the audience are happy, so am I.”
What are the plans for the 2023/2024 theater season?
“This season, we are heading into national theaters for the first time. Last season we only played in North Holland, but now we are going across the entire Netherlands. We’ve updated the repertoire and will be performing several new pieces during the show. I promise you: there are a few surprises in there related to some recent blockbusters. I like doing things that others say aren’t possible.”
And after that?
“The sky is the limit. Because of course, we’re already thinking about the 2024/2025 theater season. Which theaters do we want to be in then? Which films will we show and play? How do we ensure the performance stays fresh every season? We have more than enough ideas and creativity in-house to make the concert show even more captivating every year.”