When “Star Wars Rebels” debuts this fall, fans will hear some very familiar sounds. Yes, the ever-present “Star Wars” fanfare will be there, but for the first time in a “Star Wars” TV series, the beloved John Williams themes featured throughout the original trilogy will be back — in slightly different form. – Full article at LA Times
Interviews, Miscellaneous, Videos
Williams Talks ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ at Special Screening
With casting director Lynn Stalmaster and director Norman Jewison, John Williams talks about the challenges of making “Fiddler On The Roof” (1971), before a screening during the 2014 TCM Classic Film Festival at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 13, 2014 in Hollywood, California.
Upcoming Performances
DSO’s Spielberg, Williams Concert Tickets Sold Out Within Minutes
Tickets to the June 14 performance, a benefit concert for the orchestra, went on sale at 9 a.m. Monday, following a one-hour presale for DSO subscribers and donors. They sold out in 15 minutes, a DSO record. – Full article at The Detroit News — Concert details
Concert Reviews
Williams Conducts Houston Symphony: Listen to the Full Show
UPDATE: Listen to the Full Show at PublicRadio.org
“JOHN WILLIAMS JOINS YO-YO MA”
December 5, 2013, Houston, TX
The Houston Symphony Orchestra conducted by JOHN WILLIAMS
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Composer John Williams and cellist Yo-Yo Ma brought a yin-and-yang chemistry to the Houston Symphony concert devoted to Williams’ movie and concert music.
Williams, who conducted Thursday, was genial but self-effacing, Ma the ebullient one – waving to the audience with his first step onstage, smiling broadly, quickly giving a thumbs-up to audience members seated behind the orchestra. When they got down to work, Ma cut a more animated figure sitting behind his cello than Williams did standing at the podium. – Full review at the Houston Chronicle (includes pictures)
Concert Works
Gloria Cheng Starts Project to Fund the Release of Williams’ “Conversations”
Pianist Gloria Cheng has started a Kickstarter project to fund the making of a CD and a short documentary film featuring John Williams’ concert work “Conversations”, along with solo piano works by Bruce Broughton, Don Davis, Michael Giacchino, Randy Newman and Alexandre Desplat. The CD will be released next year on the Harmonia Mundi label. – Great Film Composers & The Piano: CD + Video by Gloria Cheng — Learn more about John Williams’ “Conversations”.
Upcoming Performances
Hollywood Bowl Concert Dates Announced
John Williams will conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in his annual visit to the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, August 29 and Saturday, August 30. This year, the Maestro welcomes special guest Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy, Ted), pays tribute to some of the classic stars of Warner Bros. Pictures, and conducts selections from some of his beloved movie hits, including Jurassic Park and Star Wars. Tickets go on sale May 4, 2014.
Upcoming Performances
John Williams Concert in Milwaukee
On October 4, John Williams will conduct the Milwaukee Symphony Pops in a benefit concert featuring selections from some of his most popular film scores, including Star Wars, Harry Potter, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind and more. Tickets go on sale to the public July 28 (on sale now to Classics and Pops subscribers). – Full details at MSO.org
Miscellaneous
Williams to Attend Screening of ‘Fiddler On The Roof’ in April for TCM Anniversary
With less than a month to go before the launch of the 2014 TCM Classic Film Festival, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) continues to expand the roster of special guests for the four-day event, which will take place April 10-13, 2014 in Hollywood. Academy Award®-nominated director Norman Jewison will join Oscar®-winning John Williams and casting director Lynn Stalmaster for a screening of the musical Fiddler on the Roof (1971), starring Topol. – Full article at Turner.com
Interviews
Williams to Write Piece for Tanglewood Music Center 75th Anniversary
During a recent interview at KUSC Classical on his oscar nomination for The Book Thief (discussed here), Williams mentioned that he has been asked to write a piece for next year’s 75th Anniversary of the Tanglewood Music Center, which “he hopes to be able to do” with Seiji Ozawa as conductor. Williams also discussed his relationship with the Star Wars saga, including next year’s Episode VII. – Listen to the 30-minute interview at KUSC.org
Star Wars: Episode VII
Star Wars: Episode VII Set to Roll Cameras May 2014
From StarWars.com:
Disney and Lucasfilm are excited to announce that principal photography on Star Wars: Episode VII, directed by J.J. Abrams, will commence May 2014, and will be based at London’s historic Pinewood Studios.
This will be the first Star Wars film to start shooting in the month of May. Lucasfilm has documented the first day of principal photography for every installment of the Star Wars saga: