A decade after its release, La La Land is heading back to Australian stages in a new format that blends cinema and live performance. The Academy Award-winning film will tour as a live-to-film concert, pairing a full orchestral score with a screening of the original movie.
First released in 2016 and directed by Damien Chazelle, the modern musical became one of the defining films of its era. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, it went on to win six Academy Awards, including Best Original Score and Best Original Song for City Of Stars.
At the centre of the concert experience is the music by composer Justin Hurwitz. His score, which blends jazz influences with classic Hollywood orchestration, will be performed live in sync with the film. The production features a full symphony orchestra and jazz ensemble, turning the screening into a layered, immersive event where music takes the lead.
Hurwitz will conduct the Sydney performances, while Australian conductor George Ellis will lead the orchestra for Brisbane and Melbourne seasons. The format places renewed focus on the score, drawing out musical details that are often secondary in a traditional cinema setting.
The Melbourne screenings will be at Hamer Hall on 6 and 8 June.
The story follows a jazz pianist and an aspiring actor chasing creative ambitions in Los Angeles, unfolding through stylised musical sequences that nod to classic Hollywood while remaining firmly contemporary. In this live format, those sequences become the focal point, with orchestral swells, jazz rhythms and piano motifs performed in real time.
Live-to-film concerts have grown steadily in recent years, offering audiences a new way to experience well-known films. This anniversary tour positions La La Land within that global trend, while reinforcing its place as a standout modern musical.
Tickets for the Australian tour go on sale Thursday April 16 at 2.00pm AEST via http://lalalandinconcert.com/
