Sounds of Summer

Summer is the season of blockbuster movies, and part of the blockbuster appeal is the big, majestic, honkin’ soundtrack that accompanies each film. Not the “music from and inspired by” soundtrack (that seemingly always features Aerosmith or SmashMouth for some reason), but the actual score that appears in the film – something bombastic and classical, say by John Williams or Henry Mancini. The Saint Louis Philharmonic presents Movie Magic, a program honoring these two giants of cinematic soundtracks, at 8 p.m. at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus (1 University Drive at Natural Bridge Road; 314-421-3600 or www.stlphilharmonic.org). Williams, of course, is the man behind the gripping music of all of the Star WarsSaving Private Ryan. Mancini, well, his credits are almost too numerous to list, but they range from the iconic Pink Panther score to the title track to What’s Happening? (not a film, but a touchstone of pop culture nonetheless). Tickets to this fundraiser for the Saint Louis Philharmonic cost $15 to $30 – almost as much as a night at the cinema, but without the interminable sneak previews.