Magical night in Istanbul: Thousands watch ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ with live orchestra

Thousands of Harry Potter fans gathered in Istanbul to experience the magic of the wizarding world in an extraordinary film concert event.

The screening of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” accompanied by a full live orchestra, took place at Volkswagen Arena as part of the “Movies in Concert” series organized by Piu Entertainment.

‘Welcome to the Harry Potter Concert’—in Turkish

The audience was greeted by British conductor Timothy Henty, who led the orchestra throughout the event. Speaking in Turkish before the concert, Henty said, “Harry Potter konserine hos geldiniz,” delighting the crowd with his warm welcome.

Emphasizing that the night was not an ordinary concert but a truly special event, Henty added, “Today, I want you to let your imagination run free and turn this place into a real Harry Potter party. So don’t hesitate to cheer and clap for your favorite characters and moments on screen.”

He continued: “Of course, the Istanbul Film Orchestra will perform every note you hear in this incredible score by John Williams live. We hope you enjoy the concert tremendously.”

Iconic score brought to life by 100-piece orchestra

Legendary composer John Williams’ score was performed live by a 100-piece Istanbul Film Orchestra during the two-hour-and-50-minute event, offering an unforgettable audio-visual experience to fans of all ages.

13,000 fans, three screenings, two days of magic

Over the course of two days, three showings of the concert took place, drawing a combined audience of approximately 13,000 people.

The film was shown in its original English language with Turkish subtitles, allowing viewers to fully immerse themselves in the world of Hogwarts while enjoying the orchestra’s live performance.

Next stop: Ankara

Following the success in Istanbul, the magical concert experience will continue in Türkiye’s capital. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will be screened with live orchestral accompaniment at ATO Congresium in Ankara on May 10-11.

The performances will be conducted by renowned maestro Ernst van Tiel, known for his expertise in leading live film concerts around the world.