If you thought classical music was all stiff collars and serious faces, All Things Orchestral at BST Hyde Park was here to blow that stereotype, and a few minds, clean out of the water. Now in its third year, the event lit up a balmy July evening (July 10) with epic film scores, lush orchestration, a few surprise guests, and a reminder that, yes, classical music can be outrageously fun.

Hosted by the ever-charismatic Myleene Klass, who somehow manages to make a black-tie orchestra feel like a rock concert, the event took over the Great Oak Stage for one night only, as part of BST Hyde Park’s Open House programme. The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, led by conductor Ben Palmer (whose baton surely counts as a magical wand by now), took the audience on a wild ride through Hollywood’s most iconic soundtracks.

From Star Wars to Indiana Jones and The Incredibles, the music was instantly recognisable, transporting the audience from the heart of London to galaxies far, far away and back again, all without spilling a single glass of rosé on the picnic blanket.

But the true headline moment? The world premiere of The Fantastic Four: First Steps Suite, composed by none other than Oscar-winner Michael Giacchino. In a perfectly orchestrated bit of movie-meets-music magic, the cast of the upcoming Marvel film, including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn, beamed in via video to introduce the piece straight from their UK fan event. It was a moment that had Marvel fans and music lovers alike grinning like kids in a sweet shop.

Speaking of Giacchino, the composer made a surprise appearance on stage, prompting audible gasps and applause from the crowd. Apparently, when you write the music for half the Pixar and Marvel universe, you’re allowed to crash your own party.

Other standout performances included a stirring VE Day tribute by internationally renowned baritone Benjamin Appl, and a beautiful appearance by FIRL, the sister duo who brought a modern edge to the orchestral proceedings with their string magic. And yes, Myleene Klass did, at one point, compare Mozart to Harry Styles and Liszt to Taylor Swift, and honestly, she made a compelling case.

The audience, a joyful mix of classical aficionados, families with kids in tow, and Marvel fans who may have wandered in thinking Giacchino was going to play Spider-Man live (he didn’t, but it was close), responded with cheers, standing ovations, and the kind of smiles you don’t usually see outside of theme parks or surprise reunions.

All Things Orchestral was the perfect crescendo to the BST Hyde Park Open House series, which ran from June 30 to July 10 and included everything from outdoor cinema and drag bingo to the newly added Hyde Park Darts Championship (yes, that’s a thing now). As for this year’s festival legacy? Olivia Rodrigo (June 27), Zach Bryan (June 28 & 29), Noah Kahan (July 4), and Sabrina Carpenter (July 5 & 6) all took to the iconic Great Oak Stage. This weekend, BST Hyde Park continues with legendary headliners Neil Young and Crazy Horse (July 11), Stevie Wonder (July 12), and Jeff Lynne’s ELO (July 13), with special guests joining throughout. And with side events like All Things Orchestral celebrating the beauty of film and classical music, BST Hyde Park proves it’s more than a music festival.

One thing’s for sure: if you missed it this year, you might want to mark your calendar for 2026. Because where else can you sip wine in a deckchair while listening to The Avengers theme performed by a world-class orchestra, under a sky that looks straight out of a movie?

Featured image courtesy of Ellie Koepke

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}