Symphonic Cinema’s latest release LOSS brings in the stars

British acting royalty, Dame Emma Thompson and Greg Wise star in Symphonic Cinema’s latest release, LOSS which had its first showing in the Netherlands this week. In front of an invited audience, the couple’s poignant exploration of letting go and the afterlife, touches an issue close to many Dutch hearts:

What does the afterlife look like? And how might it feel, both for those left behind and for those who have departed?

Travelling to Apeldoorn’s Orpheus Theatre for the first showing, the pair were joined by the Dutch film director Lucas van Woerkum, and the Dutch National Youth Orchestra (NJO) under conductor Antony Hermus. Also in the audience, Marina Mahler, the grand-daughter of Gustav Mahler whose sensitive and lengthy exploration of this theme, proved inspirational to the production team’s previous offerings.

In Thompson’s words: “It’s a very kind film. It has so much love in it”.

The music

Symphonic Cinema breaks with accepted cinematic practise by making film the servant of music. In LOSS, musicians perform Gustav Holst’s suite The Planets in all its glory live on stage while director Lucas van Woerkum sits in their midst, synchronising his silent film, and adapting to Hermus’ tempo, dynamics and emotional changes, in real time.

Speaking to Hermus after the show, he talked of the level of professionalism and commitment required from all to make the project a success.

“The young musicians were all very focused, they really had to listen to each other. On stage, the atmosphere was really good. You could see them showing appreciation for each other’s talent. “

NJON in Apeldoorn | Loss — Emma Thompson and Greg Wise
join Lucas van Woerkum, Antony Hermus and NJON on stage
© Vera van Duuren

The atmosphere in the foyer was equally exuberant as both Thompson and Wise mingled freely, talking to NJO members. Congratulations too for their performance of Richard Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra which had Wise dancing in his seat.

Greg Wise showing his appreciation of the afternoon’s musical offering © Clare Varney

Greg Wise and Emma Thompson — Language was no barrier. All speaking English beautifully © Clare Varney

The story

Dutch pianist and screenwriter Thomas Beijer shared how challenging the creative process had been:

“No one really knows what the afterlife is actually like, so in a way, the film leaves many questions unanswered. We deliberately keep the audience guessing to reflect the confusion many feel during a time of great loss. There are clues along the way. You may have to watch it more than once!”

Symphonic Symphony Loss — © Clare Varney

The dancers

Also in the audience, dancers from the Arts Umbrella Dance Company in Vancouver whose modern, interpretative dance echoes Holst’s rich and dramatic score. Scenes depicting souls helping the characters pass from one life to another are juxtaposed against images of England’s green and pleasant land. However, the question remains. Who exactly were they helping? Who had actually died?

Struck by just how many had made the journey over from Canada for the occasion, one of the dancers explained how many of those on stage now live and work in the Netherlands “as there is so much more work here than at home in Canada. It’s nice to celebrate our contribution to this project. We’re just from a tiny dance school on the other side of the world.”

Further performances

LOSS will travel to Australia for its official world premiere given by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra on May 1^st, 2026 in Sydney Opera House before performances with the London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège and the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra in 2027.

In the meantime, NJO have been granted permission to give Dutch audiences a flavour of this very Dutch art form with performances in Utrecht, Heerlen, Haarlem, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn.

Based on today’s production, none will be disappointed.