This was a Toronto Symphony performance like no other.

The idea of presenting a film with live accompaniment isn’t new, indeed that’s how they used to do it in the old days. At one time –thinking of the silent era– films were accompanied by live music, whether on a piano, organ or even a whole orchestra playing the music to underscore the action.

Lately the idea has had a resurgence, with the help of technology. Conductor Steven Reineke is able to synchronize the TSO with the help of instructions on the small screen in front of him ensuring they start in the right place. The rest of us watched the action on an enormous screen above the orchestra. TSO have offered us everything from Psycho to Star Wars, Nightmare Before Christmas, or Home Alone coming at Christmas. You may think you know the film, but it’s not the same with the live accompaniment. It’s a brand-new experience.

I cannot deny while I may claim to be a scholar, a student of film music: I’m a total fan. And when film music is performed live that changes the equation. At times the dialogue was covered by the big sound coming from the orchestra, although we had subtitles to rely upon, so no harm done. Indeed it was a glorious experience, the music suddenly massive and foregrounded as never before.

This was a savvy audience, applauding when Stan Lee appeared briefly. They know their super-heroes.

The star of the evening (and no I don’t mean Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, or Angela Bassett) was Massamba Diop on his talking drum, an extraordinary performance including a brief encore after the film.

I was aware that Ludwig Göransson won the Academy Award for best original score, but had not seen the film until tonight. What a treat and no wonder he won the Oscar.

Göransson’s score employs a big percussion contingent (at least four percussionists at the back of the stage) as well as Diop in the spotlight beside conductor Reineke. And the big brass section crushed us with an enormous sound, especially at the climactic moments of action.

It was a younger crowd than usual. We had a great time.

Friday June 30th there is another chance to see and hear Black Panther in Concert at Roy Thomson Hall. I’d go again if I could. It was a tremendous experience.