Alexandre Desplat on Harry Potter score

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 is premiered today. Some of the series’ massive success can rightly be put down to powerful soundtracks. The seventh and penultimate film is scored by French composer Alexandre Desplat.

Desplat follows in the footsteps of composers John Williams, William Ross, Patrick Doyle and Nicholas Hooper and says:
"You can't escape the weight of the previous six films. I can't think of many franchises that have been so successful, and so critically acclaimed. You're into a big league here. But I try to get my voice through whatever I do."

In an interview with Classic FM, Desplat says working on a film score is a team effort:
"Making a movie is a very collective art work. It's not just you writing for a concert. Suddenly you are one little ant. You have to keep your humility. If you want to be a good artist you have to have an ego, but with a lot of humility, otherwise you don't progress."

Desplat also told Classic FM about his relationship with the LSO, which recorded his soundtrack for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, calling them “the best orchestra in the world to record with”.

Listen to the interview with Alexandre Desplat