John Anderson,
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s acting director of artistic operations, can throw out Klingon alongside the
historical influence of Wagner on the Star Trek score. He is just the person to help stage an evening of live
Star Trek music hosted by two of the franchise’s favourite actors. The show, Star Trek: The Music, was first
booked by Anderson’s predecessor Michael Wall, who did not know what kind of character he would be passing it
off to. “Michael wouldn’t know a Klingon from a Ferengi if it phasered him in the ass,” Anderson says. “I,
however, am one of the world’s biggest Star Trek fans and when I found out that he had booked this show I
just started vibrating because I was so excited and so happy.”
This show has that impact. The orchestra will play pieces from the TV series and the movies, paced by
anecdotes from the two hosts, Robert Picardo, Star Trek: Voyager’s “The Doctor” and John de Lancie, “Q” from
Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. Picardo says, “It’s very loose. There’s a lot of
humour. There are a few irreverent jokes. The irreverence may come a little more from my side. John has this
wonderful professorial air.” The audience can also expect to hear that singing voice they grew to know from
Picardo on Voyager. “I sing the lyrics to the original Star Trek theme. [Star Trek creator] Gene Rodenberry
was many wonderful things but he was not a lyricist,” he says.
Both Picardo and Anderson agree that the music has a recognizable quality to it that makes it worthy of a
tribute. “If I go up to a Star Trek geek and I start humming the following [insert ominous pounding rhythm of
dun dun duns] they know instantly from that little musical snippet that I’m talking about Star Trek, the
original series, the fight scene between Spock and Kirk on Vulcan over his fiancée,” Anderson explains. “Lots
of melodies and lots of rhythms from these TV shows and series have become linked to things like specific
characters or courage or hope or danger.” If Anderson is right, expect to experience as many emotions as
there are Tribbles. •
The show runs from Jan. 13-15, with the after-party on the closing night. For tickets and more information go
to cpo-live.com
