Across the Music-Verse : A chat with Shelbie Rassler, conductor of “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse In Concert”

Before that story, here’s what you should also know this week

• Halloween Time has returned to the Disneyland Resort. Here’s an overview of what’s happening, much of which are fan-favorites returning including the Haunted Mansion Holiday.

• Agatha All Along, the spin-off series of Marvel Television’s “WandaVision” is now streaming exclusively on Disney+. Watch the trailer here.

• DisneyExaminer was included in a very special first-look at the making of Moana 2. More on what we learned from the team at Walt Disney Animation Studios soon!

Into the Shelbie-Verse.

Prior to Sony Animation’s Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse winning the Best Animated Feature Oscar earlier this year, it held a private event last December at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences showcasing the music of the film. 

With composer Daniel Pemberton’s electronic and melodic score together with a full orchestra, rock band ensemble, and a DJ using their turntables, those who were lucky enough to attend the invite-only live concert experience were treated to an exhilarating evening that brought the complex score of the now-Oscar winning film alive.

“It’s really hard to explain. I didn’t think it was possible [to play the score live],” said Shelbie Rassler. “But you have the right team, and it just all comes together.”

Rassler, 26, would know about putting together a team to make something amazing. 

During the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in March 2020, Rassler put together a team of 75 musicians from around the world to create a musical moment of levity with a virtual ensemble performing Burt Bacharach’s “What the World Needs Now.” That video, which was picked up by global news, was probably a training of sorts for her next high-profile project- music directing and conducting the touring orchestra for Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert.

Having graduated with her Masters in Music Composition from Juliard in 2022 and her Bachelors from Berklee before that, Rassler, like many of her peers, auditioned and was chosen to be handed the musical baton from Pemberton for touring his music and the film around in the United States after the success of the invite-only concert that is now playing 50+ U.S. cities.

Rassler firmly believes that she has the right team in order to execute the complex and highly-choreographed score many times in those many concert venues. “They have the proficiency and creativity with their own instruments, but the feeling of being able to play with an ensemble and even a DJ who’ll be scratching records the entire time!,” she said.

As for the music itself, it will be Pemberton’s exact score that will be printed on the sheet music for all the musicians performing the live score-to-picture concert.

For those who have seen the movie, you’ll definitely be hearing the clash of genres play out as the animation goes by, and might be too complex for some. Rassler argues, however, that it is all purposeful. 

“It is complex because the animation and the visuals of the movie are complex. The Spider-Verse shows us variations of this character, and similarly, the score reflects the various genres of music that seem to come together so naturally.”

For those who haven’t seen the movie and will be experiencing it through this event, Rassler hopes that the movie would be an introduction to the beauty that is movie music. 

“I know we’re trying to create something inspiring for us, the performers, every night. Perhaps it can be inspiring to those who’ve never heard an orchestra, DJ, or rock ensemble play live before, too, and ignite a new generation of live concertgoers,” Rassler said.

Tickets for the U.S. tour of Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert are now available, including a stop in Southern California at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. Visit the official website for tickets and more details.

Our special thanks to Shelbie Rassler for contributing to this story!

STILL TO COME: Moana 2 exclusives! Including our thoughts having seen the first 30-minutes of the sequel coming soon.

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