SimJD

Just saw this with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on the weekend. Orchestra sounded fantastic and a good balance of the orchestra and the film audio (when they did Raiders last year the levels in the film audio were all over the place). Journey to the Island was the highlight that I hoped it would be. As others have commented, the way they stop short in the end credits is interesting. It certainly makes musical sense to end at such a big moment and not go out quietly. They played Flying from E.T. as an encore (no projection).

The Australian version is only the standard, so no special or delux available, no digipack and (worse) nothing embossed

...or the Tie Fighter Attack music that was also quoted in ROTJ. That would really stand out as a nod to the OT.

The opening theme for DOS sounds like a variation on Bard's theme to me (I think that was also suggested by gkgyver, if I remember correctly), followed by a brief hint of the Mirkwood (or Smaug's) theme. Will listen again with Bard's theme in mind.

The new opening theme for DOS has the same opening notes as the Erebor Theme, although in a different key and with very different harmony. Could it be some sort of hybrid Erebor/History of the Ring/Smaug theme? Is there some reference to this at approx 1:30 - 1:50 on Inside Information? If not then the moment that underscores Smaug's reference to the One Ring (which I think that section might underscore). It really struck me in the theatre on my second viewing.