London Symphony Orchestra Movies

This unique children's series was designed by parents for parents. Baby IQ aims to teach children early language and thinking skills in a fun, entertaining way that will please both parent and child. Music by the London Symphony Orchestra provides an auditory backdrop for several stimulating lessons about colors, animals, movement, shapes, patterns, and counting. ~ All Movie Guide

Directed by Mike Newell, the fourth installment to the Harry Potter series finds Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) wondering why his legendary scar -- the famous result of a death curse gone wrong -- is aching in pain, and perhaps even causing mysterious visions. Before he can think too much about it, however, Harry boards the train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he will attend his fourth year of magical education. Shortly after his reunion with his best friends, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), Harry is introduced to yet another Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher: the grizzled Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson), a former dark wizard catcher who agreed to take on the infamous "DADA" professorship as a personal favor to Headmaster Dumbledore (Michael Gambon). Of course, Harry's wishes for an uneventful school year are almost immediately shattered when he is unexpectedly chosen, along with fellow student Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson), as Hogwarts' representative in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, which awards whoever completes three magical tasks the most skillfully with a thousand-galleon purse and the admiration of the international wizard community. As difficult as it is to deal with his schoolwork, friendships, and the tournament at the same time (not to mention his feelings toward the ever unfathomable Professor Snape (Alan Rickman), Harry doesn't realize that the most feared wizard in the world, Lord Voldemort, is anticipating the tournament, as well. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

Directed by Jonathan Glazer, Birth takes place in New York's Upper East Side, where Anna (Nicole Kidman), a 35-year-old widow, resides. Just as Anna has shaken off what she thought were the final remnants of her old life -- she has even found love with a new man, Joseph (Danny Huston), whom she plans on marrying -- Sean (Cameron Bright), a ten-year-old boy, comes into her life insisting that he is the reincarnation of her late husband. Though she initially brushes off the boy's claims as the result of a crush on her, his grave demeanor and uncanny knowledge of her life leads Anna through a self-reevaluation that not only threatens her marital plans with Joseph (Huston), but also strains her relationship with her mother, Eleanor (Lauren Bacall). ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

The title of this PBS film displays the punning ability of Paul McCartney as he proudly points out his working-class heritage. Paul McCartney: Working Classical is a 1999 concert, demonstrating his belief that all music should be accessible. It features three new orchestral pieces: "Spiral," "A Leaf," and "Tuesday." McCartney pays tribute to his wife, Linda, explaining that his love songs were all written for her. These include "My Love," "The Lovely Linda," "Maybe I'm Amazed," "Junk," and "She's My Baby." ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide

This video presents the premier performance of Paul McCartney's symphonic composition Standing Stone, which was commissioned by EMI in celebration of their centennial in 1997. Written to accompany a poem that ponders how the ancient Celtics might have confronted the mysteries of life, this video features McCartney and The London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus performing Standing Stone in concert at London's Royal Albert Hall; also included is a documentary about the composition of the piece, and the preparations for its premier. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A claymation video. Bruce Bickford animates a fantasy world of strange creatures to music by Frank Zappa and Pierry Boulez performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Ensemble InterContemporain. ~ All Movie Guide

For the first time in nearly two decades, Sir Georg Solti returns to the London Symphony Orchestra to present three compositions by Beethoven in this performance captured live by the BBC. Compositions featured in this release include "Overture to 'Coriolan,' Op. 62", "Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15", and "Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92". ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Gilbert & Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore opens with the crew of the Pinafore busily and boisterously sprucing up the deck for the arrival of Sir Joseph Porter, a high-ranking admiral. They pause only to buy wares from the peddler called Little Buttercup and then return happily to work. But not all are so happy. Ralph Rackstraw, "the smartest lad in all the fleet," is in love with the Captain's daughter, Josephine, who has been promised to Porter. In spite of this -- and the fact that Josephine and he are far apart in terms of class -- Ralph pursues her, and she eventually confesses her own love for him. The two young lovers plan to elope, but the Captain learns of her plans and puts a halt to them. Porter, furious at Ralph's impertinence, has him imprisoned. At that moment, Buttercup reveals a tremendous secret: Many years in the past, she had been given charge of two babies, one of good family and one of lower status. These turn out to be Ralph and the Captain -- but Buttercup further reveals that she had accidentally switched them. Thus, Ralph is of noble birth and the Captain comes from poverty -- and therefore, Josephine is also of the lower class and no longer a fit mate for Porter. However, the newly-ennobled Ralph has no such reservations, and gladly takes Josephine to be his wife. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

The London Symphony Orchestra assists Eric Shilling, Keith Michell, Francis Egerton, and Tom McDonnell in a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers. The story concerns two gondoliers who must choose a wife from two-dozen prospective mates. Royal intrigue and mystery add the plot complications common to the work of Gilbert and Sullivan. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Mozart's 1791 opera Cosi Fan Tutte (Women Are Like That) is presented live onstage in this 1975 performance from the Glyndebourne Festival Opera. Released by Art Haus Music, the production features Helena Doese as Fiordiligi and Sylvia Lindenstrand as Dorabella with music by The London Philharmonic Orchestra. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide