Here is my photo of Maestro Richard Watkins, on April 2nd, 2012 at Abbey Road Studio One, having just recorded the music at the start of Prometheus.
The session started at 10:00am with a HUGE orchestra and a new pile of music by Harry Gregson-Williams, who was also conducting. Everyone was sightreading and Richard had just arrived and taken off his coat (so, no warm-up). I was sitting next to him.
Right at the very the start of the session Harry said,"Hey, Richard, there's some horn solo stuff in this. Shall we do it first to get it out of the way?
"Okay, sure", said Richard.
Richard played it perfectly first time. It's not often that a studio orchestra breaks into applause, but they certainly did that day.
Harry and the technicians could find no fault with Richard's solos but asked for them all again, anyway, I suppose just so they could make sure they hadn't misheard. Richard played it all again - and then again - all perfect, with rapturous applause after each recording.
As I had my camera with me I thought it important to record this historical event.
....not that this was anything particularly special for Richard. He seems to do that kind of thing most days...
