Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Live in Concert in Abu Dhabi

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Live in Concert is a film-with-orchestra evening in Abu Dhabi. The festive comedy is shown on screen while the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra plays the score in the hall, so the music comes from the stage instead of a soundtrack. It is listed under orchestra and Christmas events, and it suits the holiday season.

The score is by John Williams, and it is the main draw here. Kevin McCallister's mischievous adventure through New York unfolds on screen, and the orchestra follows it note for note. The orchestra is internationally acclaimed, which gives a familiar family film the weight of a proper symphonic concert. The film is also available to stream on Disney+, but watching it with a live orchestra is a different experience from watching it at home.

The concert takes place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi's entertainment district, which is also home to theme parks, hotels and a Formula 1 circuit. Etihad Arena is a large indoor venue used for concerts and major live shows. Yas Island is a drive from Dubai, usually about an hour to an hour and a half by car, so Dubai residents often make an evening of it.

The format is simple: you take your seat, the film starts, and the orchestra performs alongside it from beginning to end. It suits families, film fans and anyone who likes film music played live, and it is an easy way to bring some Christmas spirit into the season. Since this is a film screening with live music rather than a standing gig, expect a relaxed, seated and sociable evening.

John Williams is among the best-known film composers, and his music for the Home Alone films is part of what gives them their Christmas feel. Hearing it performed live gives the story a bigger sound, and fans of the film may well find themselves craving that large cheese pizza along the way.