The Philadelphia Orchestra – Star Wars in Concert – The Mann – Philadelphia (A PopEntertainment.com Concert and Movie Review)
- PopEntertainment
- Jul 26
- 3 min read
The Philadelphia Orchestra – Star Wars in Concert – The Mann – Philadelphia, PA – July 24, 2026
Child-like wonder. That’s the best way to describe what my group and I experienced at Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Thanks to awful decision making by Disney in the past couple of years, I have become disillusioned with the Star Wars franchise, not feeling the same anticipation for new projects I once did.
Which is a shame, since Star Wars has played a massive role in my life as it has for so many others all over the world. Yet, when I got the chance to see arguably the best and most famous film in the series, The Empire Strikes Back, with an orchestra that is considered to be one of the best symphony orchestras in the world playing the score live with it, I jumped at the chance to see this film in such a unique way.
I was also lucky enough to vicariously reexperience Empire through two different perspectives. One person in my group is a lifelong Star Wars fan, and the other has never finished any of the films. Still, the enjoyment was palpable on both sides. The lifelong Star Wars fan later told me that “the eight-year-old version of me was freaking out the whole time” and the one who had never finished the films said to me that “I need to go back and watch all the movies now.” That is the kind of effect this movie still has on people 46 years later.
With that being said, this viewing of Empire was unlike anything I’d witnessed before. Being shown on a single large outdoor screen, in the recently – and might I say beautifully – renovated TD Pavilion at the Mann, the cool summer night and buzz of excitement led to an atmosphere any fan would be lucky to share in.
The orchestra, led by conductor Damon Gupton, was perfect in their rendition of John Williams’s legendary score. The live music encapsulated every aspect of your being as it legitimately amplified the viewing experience of a nearly perfect film.
Seeing parents getting to take their children to share in the magic that they first went through over 46 years ago was beyond heart-warming. Hearing thunderous applause after every iconic moment, watching people’s eyes, both young and old, light up as they experience the generation defining film Lucas and Co. created all those years ago reaffirmed something in me.
No matter where this franchise goes from here, no matter how many successes and failures Disney greenlights, the wonder of this film is timeless and cannot be killed. Star Wars was, and always will be best, when it’s shared with others. As long as there are fans for this franchise, and people are still willing to make the journey, that will never change.
Beyond their magnificent classical and contemporary concerts, The Philadelphia Orchestra continues to broaden their reach through other genres with performances like these film scores live-to-picture, crossover concerts, and community-focused pops events.
For scheduling and ticket information, visit https://philorch.ensembleartsphilly.org/tickets-and-events/events.
George Seth Wagner
Copyright ©2026 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: July 26, 2026.
Photos ©2026 by Jordan August. Courtesy of Highmark Mann. All rights reserved.