Ukrainian orchestra, choir to perform music from Tolkien films at Colonial Theatre

LACONIA — A Ukrainian orchestra who's already played sold-out shows throughout the U.S. is on its way to the Colonial Theatre, after a previously scheduled date was canceled due to difficulty obtaining visas.

The Hollywood Film Orchestra will perform two shows on Wednesday, March 18; a 4 p.m. matinee performance titled “The Music of the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and Rings of Power — In Concert,” followed by a 7:30 p.m. show titled “The Music of Hans Zimmer and Others.” Both will be performed by a group of 30 musicians and 10 choir singers who have been wowing audiences around the world.

“There was an issue with visas, and we have no problem making that public,” said Head of Production Alan Trezza. “It put a complete and total stop to our tour. To the credit to the cities we booked, everyone was incredibly understanding.”

The show was originally slated for October, before being rescheduled to March, and Trezza said the people of Laconia are in for a powerful show displaying top-tier talent. He said Star Entertainment has been doing shows for 20 years, with international orchestras from around the globe, and when the war started in Ukraine, they thought it would be important for people to have a broader understanding of the country.

“They shouldn’t just be known for being in this battle, but to be valued, and show the talent of the incredible people who live there,” Trezza said. “The response has been extraordinary.”

Trezza said at shows in Minneapolis, as well as both Los Angeles and San Francisco, they received “glowing reviews and standing ovations.” He personally attended the three nights in L.A., at the Alex Theater in Glendale, which sold out despite starting the run on a Monday. One of the shows featured the music of the “Harry Potter” movies, and concertgoers dressed as wizards heading to Hogwarts.

Those shows were in December, and after a brief break, the tour will pick up again in February, starting with two nights in Jacksonville, Florida. The tour will wind its way through the Midwest, and then up to Quebec, before landing in Laconia for the double feature. The entire tour wraps up in Augusta, Georgia, on May 1. After a break, they plan to have more shows in November. Performances have taken place in theaters of all sizes, ranging from 500 to 2,000 seats. Trezza called it “something to behold.”

“It has been an incredible way of spotlighting this country, and telling people there is a lot more than what is seen on the news sites,” Trezza said.

During the 4 p.m. showing at the Colonial, Trezza said audiences will see something special. Sir Christopher Lee, who played Saruman in "The Lord of the Rings" films, recorded a series of videos before he died. They have never before been seen by a paying audience, according to Trezza.

“He greets the audience and tells his history with [J.R.R.] Tolkien, and how the themes resonate today,” Trezza said. “There will be beautiful imagery with the orchestra and soloists.”

For this show in particular, they will be dubbed the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Choir of the Shire.

The orchestra will then shift gears to play “The Music of Hans Zimmer and Others,” following the matinee show.

Zimmer was described by Trezza as among the great film composers of all time, up with Danny Elfman and John Williams. The orchestra will be performing some of his most recognizable and loved music from movies like “Inception,” “The Dark Knight,” “Top Gun” and the “Dune” franchise.

The orchestra will be led by Vitaliy Kovalchuk, a Ukrainian conductor with experience in opera, ballet and symphonies. He is a graduate of the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar and the Berlin University of the Arts, and obtained a master’s degree in conducting. He has conducted acclaimed opera and ballet performances at the Odessa National Academic Opera, including "Don Quixote," "Swan Lake," "The Sleeping Beauty," "The Nutcracker," and "Spartacus."

Kovalchuk is the founder of the Odessa Symphony Orchestra, and has performed more than 70 concerts across Europe. He has conducted orchestras including Dresdner Philharmonie, Berliner Symphoniker, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Jena Philharmonic, Thüringer Symphoniker Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, Kharkiv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, and the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ukraine.

Ukrainian guitarist Vitaliy Tkachuk, of Odesa, plays acoustic and electric guitar, as well as Arabian oud and bansuri flutes. He's played and recorded with international artists, and Tkachuck has also created soundtracks, a solo guitar album, and as a member of a five-piece acoustic band playing Arabian music. He was nominated for a Grammy award in 2025, as a guitarist on Andrew & Polly’s album titled “Ahhhhh!”

Joining the orchestra is Yurii Vlasiuk, a Ukrainian principal clarinet player for the Odesa Symphony Orchestra. He was first introduced to clarinet at the local Children’s School of Music in Ukraine, where he found his natural talent. Known for his warm, focused tone with a narrative approach to his music, Vlasiuk uses the orchestra as a source to pour out creative expression.

Tetiana Topchii was born in Ukraine, but has been based in Spain since 2022. As professionally-trained vocalist, choral artist, and conductor, Topchii has been performing across Europe for the past six years. She is also part of the Odesa Symphony Orchestra, honing her skills as a vocalist and conductor, while participating in international choral projects.

Marina Brynzyanyk, a 25-year-old Ukrainian violinist, is another member of the Odesa Symphony Orchestra, and has performed around the globe with many others. She has been a prize winner of national and international competitions, and is known for refined musicality, strong stage presence, emotional depth, and expressive playing, while being technically precise.

Gleb Formalsky is a multi-instrumentalist, and for the past 21 years has been the principal trombonist of the Zaporizhzhia Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. He has worked in a number of pop and opera orchestras over the years, and actively tours across Europe.

Trezza said it is unique to experience this type of world-class talent in the intimate atmosphere of the historic Colonial Theatre. He said it is a fun night for everyone, with plenty of audience participation and some surprises along the way, like actors from the films sharing stories.

For tickets and more details, visit coloniallaconia.com.