Review: Ocean in Concert makes a splash

On Wednesday, Sept. 30, a nearly sold-out audience gathered at the Emma Eccles Theatre for the premiere of Ocean in Concert with David Attenborough, presented and conducted by USU professor Ghyas Zeidieh and the Cache Symphony Orchestra. With a score composed by Steven Price and performed live by the orchestra, audiences watched in amazement as Attenborough’s exploration of the world’s oceans came to life on screen and on stage.

Hope in the face of climate disaster

Immediately upon entering the Emma Eccles Theatre I was struck with a sense of beauty. The theatre itself is stunning with intricate molding and tilework. This feeling continued the whole night as the music, cinematography, and messaging of Ocean in Concert left me awestruck. As the orchestra tunes, I can see the shadow of the conductor on the theatre walls as he prepares to lead a beautiful piece of music.
The Cache Symphony Orchestra is composed of USU students and Cache Valley community members. I could feel the pride and joy members of the orchestra had for the piece they were performing. In a brief speech before the film, Ziedieh said, “My hobby is my full time job.” His pride and excitement in his work could be felt throughout the performance.
The performance was a seamless blend between the symphony and the film. The orchestra included five vocalists whose singing elevated the whole piece and sent chills down my spine. At one point a wave crashed against a beach and I thought to myself, “How is the orchestra creating that sound?” It was not the orchestra, it was the film. That is how in tune Ocean and the music were. It allowed me to get lost in the music and movie.
Ocean with David Attenborough focused on how humans and the ocean are connected. This was highlighted not just in the film but in the theatre also. The Emma Eccles Theatre is cooled using canal water. Myself and the rest of the audience were experiencing the exact connection between humans and water the film was themed around. Narrator Attenborough shares stories from his 100 years of life about how the ocean and humans have interacted. Many communities rely on the sea, from families who fish in Liberia to scallop divers in Britain and lobster farmers off the coast of California. Humans are dependent on the ocean and all it provides.

— Sophie Anderson

David Attenborough: Keepin’ it 100 years old

As many diehard fans of nature documentaries such as myself would agree, David Attenborough is seemingly one of the last of the Jane Goodalls and Steve Irwins of our world — passion for nature so infectious you can actually feel it through technology. Ocean in Concert is a beautiful testament to the devastating impact overfishing and climate change have had on the environment from the smallest to largest scales and brings back true passion for nature and wildlife.
What truly made this experience incredible was the live orchestra. It’s easy to take film scores for granted, especially in a nature documentary, but the orchestra provides an incredibly interactive element, bringing each scene to life. I found my eyes darting back and forth at times between the schools of fish on screen and the school of talented musicians on stage before us, as both were mesmerizing.
While many ocean documentaries provide familiar information you could easily find in books or online, Ocean with David Attenborough provides multiple groundbreaking discoveries and reminds us that discoveries are ongoing. There were enough fascinating first looks that this documentary felt much more informative and investigative than your average watch.

One recent discovery I found particularly fascinating: After a record-breaking heat wave, coral reefs around the globe simultaneously turned ghost-white, a sign of high stress in their ecosystems. This phenomenon shows just some of the negative impacts we face from climate change.

Not all groundbreaking news gives reason to fear. This was a story of hope, after all. While only 3% of our oceans are fully protected currently, Attenborough confirms that up to 30% of our oceans will be fully protected by 2030, giving hope that growth and restoration are on the horizon.

One of the most fascinating examples comes from Hawaii, where the protected Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument has allowed wildlife to flourish, with the benefits of conservation extending far beyond its boundaries. Unlike land conservation, where protection is often limited to the area within a park, ocean conservation can replenish surrounding waters as marine life spreads beyond protected zones. It’s a fascinating reminder of just how quickly the ocean can recover when given the space to do so.

When thinking back on the last couple of decades, it’s hard to recollect many stories with a positive outlook in favor of our oceans, yet this documentary provides a silver lining. The call to action from Attenborough was simple; do nothing. Allow our oceans to regenerate and flourish.

The night was a pleasant reminder to appreciate nature and all that surrounds you, as even the Ellen Eccles Theatre is cooled by local canal water.

— Max Murray

“When you go to a theatrical performance, sometimes you take the score for granted a little bit, but seeing it performed right there on the stage by USU students and people in the community, it brings it to life so much more.” said Utah State University President Brad L. Mortensen, who was also in attendance.

Ocean in Concert was truly an immersive experience highlighting the amazing talent that exists right here in Logan, and reminds us that we are part of something bigger than ourselves.