FOR most of the last century, the only place lush, romantic, tuneful music has really been in vogue is in the cinema.

The BSO's Heroes and Superheroes 2 concert reminded us just how much rich and melodic music has been written for the exploits of larger-than-life characters on screen.

The master of the genre, John Williams, was quite rightly represented more than any other composer, with stirring performances of Raiders of the Lost Ark, his Olympic theme Summon the Heroes, the Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back and the main title for Superman, a score of towering brilliance.

Williams also provided the evening's quietest and most moving moment, as BSO leader Amyn Merchant gave a beautiful performance of the main theme from Schindler's List.

One of Britain's great film composers, the late Ron Goodwin, used to conduct the BSO's enormously popular Christmas concerts, so it was appropriate that the orchestra was on particularly good form when honouring its sometime maestro in the bellicose main title from Where Eagles Dare and the thrilling 633 Squadron. The latter is a theme which, as conductor Pete Harrison noted, inspires an almost irresistible urge to run around doing plane impressions.

These days, lush tunes are falling out of fashion again in Hollywood, partly under the influence of the less melodic scores of Hans Zimmer. Not only did this concert include some of Zimmer's more tuneful work (The Last Samurai and Gladiator) but it included some striking music written for video games. As the extracts from David Buckley's Shrek and Call of Duty scores showed, the games console is increasingly the place where today's grand orchestrations and haunting melodies are to be found.

This was an inspired selection of material, flawlessly performed. Unlike most movie sequels, Heroes and Superheroes 2 very much warrants a part three.

Darren Slade