Justin Freer

Since producer Gene Roddenberry launched his “’Wagon Train’ to the stars” on September 8th, 1966, the universe of the show’s visionary creator has expanded through multiple incarnations of spaceships and crews on viewer screens big and small. Through five decades, it’s been a tonally consistent universe, which is no small feat given the utopian concept’s many, enthusiastic voices, especially among the hundreds of hours of music created by numerous composers. Starting with a boldly thematic approach for the “Classic Trek,” the scoring became harmoniously homogenous for the show’s re-launch with “The Next Generation” and its subsequent syndication spin-offs. But in theaters, “Star Trek’s” music gloriously hearkened back to the more conventionally cinematic approach in the captain’s chair as it was handed from Kirk to Picard and back to Kirk again.

Now turning the music of “Star Trek” into a live, symphonic whole with a 50th Anniversary Concert Tour, show conductor and co-producer Justin Freer proves himself worthy of a Starfleet medal of commendation for creating an impressive cohesive vision of “Star Trek’s” music. Where film music concerts themselves have usually been relegated the same-old renditions of classic themes, and scenes that have been heard as many times as fans have watched reruns, Freer’s CineConcerts (founded with Brady Beaubien) have truly energized live shows by treating them as ersatz scoring sessions, often playing complete, live scores to landmark soundtracks as “The Godfather,” “Titanic” and “Gladiator.”