Prague’s Film Music Prague festival will return in October 2026 with a symphonic tribute to two of Hollywood’s most influential film composers. The concert Music of Hollywoodu: Goldsmith & Poledouris will take place on Oct. 4 and spotlight the work of Jerry Goldsmith and Basil Poledouris, whose scores helped define the sound of science fiction, action and thriller cinema.
The evening will feature performances by the Hradec Králové Philharmonic under conductor Chuhei Iwasaki, presenting selections from across both composers’ careers. The program will focus particularly on their collaborations with Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven, whose provocative films required bold and distinctive musical approaches.
A tribute to two Hollywood scoring legends
Jerry Goldsmith and Basil Poledouris developed highly recognizable musical identities during decades of work in Hollywood, creating some of the most memorable themes in modern cinema. Although their careers followed different paths, both composers became closely associated with ambitious genre filmmaking and large-scale orchestral writing.
Goldsmith, who received 18 Academy Award nominations and won an Oscar for The Omen, will be represented by selections including Basic Instinct and Total Recall. His score for Basic Instinct used an atmospheric orchestral style to heighten the psychological tension of Paul Verhoeven’s 1992 erotic thriller, earning Goldsmith an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score.
His work on Total Recall, released in 1990 and also directed by Verhoeven, demonstrated his ability to combine traditional orchestration with emerging electronic sounds. The composer incorporated synthesizers, unusual rhythmic structures and a powerful symphonic approach to create a futuristic musical identity that remains closely associated with the science fiction film.
Poledouris’ contribution to the concert will include music from some of the defining genre films of the 1980s and 1990s. His score for RoboCop, Verhoeven’s 1987 science fiction satire, created a memorable musical identity for the film’s central character, blending mechanical intensity with human emotion.
The program will also feature selections from Starship Troopers, another Verhoeven collaboration. Poledouris’ score combined military-inspired themes with elements of satire, reflecting the film’s deliberately exaggerated portrayal of intergalactic warfare.
From Conan to Star Trek: a journey through film history
Beyond their work with Verhoeven, the concert will explore the wider impact of both composers on Hollywood filmmaking. Poledouris’ iconic score for Conan the Barbarian remains one of the most celebrated fantasy soundtracks of the 1980s. During the original recording sessions in Rome, the composer famously participated directly in the production of the music, including playing a blacksmith’s anvil to achieve a specific sound for the score.
The concert will also include additional highlights from both composers’ extensive filmographies. Audiences can expect music from Alien, Rambo, Free Willy and the Star Trek franchise, including Star Trek: First Contact.
Founded in 2013, Film Music Prague has established itself as one of Europe’s prominent festivals dedicated to film scores and composers. The event regularly brings orchestral performances of internationally recognized soundtracks to Prague audiences while highlighting the artistic role of music in cinema.
The 2026 edition’s focus on Goldsmith and Poledouris reflects the lasting influence of composers who helped shape the musical language of modern Hollywood. Their work continues to inspire filmmakers, musicians and audiences more than two decades after their most influential collaborations reached cinemas.
More details about this year’s festival can be found at the official Prague Film Music website.
Lead photo: Facebook / Film Music Prague Festival
