Omen II

The giant disembodied head of Mike Matessino revealed the momentous news of Wompi to a stunned audience over Microsoft Teams.  The sense of shock and disbelief in the room were palpable as we tried in vain to come to terms with the bombshell and to make some sense of it all.  The humanity!

The giant disembodied head of Mike Matessino revealed the momentous news of Wompi to a stunned audience over Microsoft Teams.  The sense of shock and disbelief in the room were palpable as we tried in vain to come to terms with the bombshell and to make some sense of it all.  The humanity!

Yesterday we discovered the true meaning of Wompi.  It is a secret so abominable that I shall take it to my grave!

Yesterday we discovered the true meaning of Wompi.  It is a secret so abominable that I shall take it to my grave!

It was a great concert!
 
 
 

Yesterday we discovered the true meaning of Wompi.  It is a secret so abominable that I shall take it to my grave!

I am going to the evening performance and very much looking forward to it, once I have sobered up from my Sunday lunch.
 

R.I.P., Sir Bobby Charlton.

So glad I held on to it after the SE release. My brother decided to get rid of his, and I gave it to one of my Japanese 4th grade students, who gave me this sweet message in a card:
 

I don't know how these things work or from what point on you are allowed to officially call yourself a knight, but it appears Williams has now received his official KBE certificate thingy:
 

He should do a whole album with Hahn like Williams did with Mutter. They seem to agree with one another.

@KittBash
 
Another event which John Williams attended as an audience member was the concert given by the John Wilson Orchestra at Royce Hall in Los Angeles on 25th October 2013.  We know that Williams attended because LSO percussionist David Jackson (also a member of the JWO) posted a photograph of Williams with John Wilson backstage.  Unfortunately I can no longer find the photograph online.
 
It is the concert described here.  I seem to remember that Larry King was also in the photograph.

Sorry to bring up an old post, but I just got a copy of the original 1987 program of JW’s concerts in Japan!
 
Not in the greatest condition but fascinating all the same.
 
Also found this amusing article about JW’s time in Japan over 30 years ago:
 
https://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/14580929
 
Guide to pics:
 
1. Cover
2. Inside page - not a real signature!
3. Program A
4. Full page ad for the actual TV broadcast!
5. Mini pamphlet tucked inside by the previous owner (thank you!). You can see where he folded it
6. Inside the pamphlet

Here are the dates of the two performances of the extensively revised version of John Williams's symphony, the original version of which was premiered by the Houston Symphony Orchestra in 1966:
1972/07/08 - André Previn conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in John Williams's symphony at the Albert Hall in Nottingham (not to be confused with the Royal Albert Hall in London) 1972/07/09 - André Previn conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in John Williams's symphony at the Royal Festival Hall in London, with Williams and fellow film composer Bernard Herrmann also in attendance

This is such a wonderful idea @KittBash and gives some sense of what a hectic lifestyle Williams has led for most of his ninety-one years.  Thank you for your hard work on this so far!
 
I can see that you have the Filmharmonic '85 concert listed where John Williams conducted the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London in November 1985, however here are the dates of some of his other conducting gigs in the United Kingdom:
1976/10/30 - John Williams conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Filmharmonic '76 at the Royal Albert Hall 1978/02/16 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in The LSO in Space at the Royal Albert Hall 1980/10/18 - John Williams conducts the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Filmharmonic '80 at the Royal Albert Hall 1982/02/08 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in the open air sculpture court at the Barbican Centre in London 1982/02/09 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in the open air sculpture court at the Barbican Centre in London 1985/11/16 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in Filmharmonic '85 at the Royal Albert Hall 1996/06/26 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1996/06/28 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1996/06/30 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/01 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/02 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/03 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/04 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London  

There have been plenty of songs from musicals at the last night, especially by Richard Rodgers.  A suite from The Sea Hawk by Erich Wolfgang Korngold was played in 2005 and Henry V by William Walton in 2002.  More recently the romance from The Gadfly by Shostakovich was played at the last night.
 
John Williams has also featured in the last night with his Olympic Fanfare and Theme in 2012, for obvious reasons.

There have been plenty of songs from musicals at the last night, especially by Richard Rodgers.  A suite from The Sea Hawk by Erich Wolfgang Korngold was played in 2005 and Henry V by William Walton in 2002.  More recently the romance from The Gadfly by Shostakovich was played at the last night.
 
John Williams has also featured in the last night with his Olympic Fanfare and Theme in 2012, for obvious reasons.

Wow.
 
Need time to collect my thoughts to write a proper review, but here are some quick notes:
 
- “Three million light years from home” gave me the chills when the pipe organ came in! Since I was seated behind the orchestra, I was pretty close to the pipe organ
- “Stargazers” was sublime! Those harps parts… so good. The auditorium was dead silent during the whole piece… we were all holding our breath!
-  “Princess Leia’s theme” was gorgeous. The flute and French horn solos were to die for… and so clear!!
- “Throne room/Finale” was done at a brisker pace than usual, so had some extra oomph to it. Loved it!

Sorry if the above sounds like the gushings of a crazy fanboy!!
 
Other notes:
- sound quality in Suntory Hall is next level. Crystal clear, you could hear a pin drop! But then again, I was just behind the orchestra.
- Deneve clearly said that DG was recording the concert. I saw multiple remote cameras (the dome-shaped ones that spin around) on stage, and fixed cameras on the snare drum (?) player (he got a good workout during the concert!), and the piccolo player - no doubt because they want to feature her in the video recording during the ET parts.
- Ozawa did not appear on stage despite them saying he was there
- for the final encore, JW turned to the audience and simply said “Darth Vadar” and the audience went nuts!

Will report more later!
 
The attached pics show where I was sitting 👍 You can see the pipe organ!!
 

A New update nicknamed "Do it Rockapella" this time adding the state or country playing a bit of Where in the World is Maestro John Williams. When possible I've added the State or Country in which the entry takes place. Also some formatting updates with more to come and of course new and updated entries. 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Sgepya2i8LU2TPesQRGltWtQJ7yNXDCOubwqDKqwg4I/edit?usp=sharing
 

 
Lastly I've added  stats panel that will give live updates on the number of entries of each type.

I don’t know. It is quite possible (Nottingham is about 130 miles from London and easy to get to by train) but very little information has ever surfaced online about the Nottingham concert, other than a brief newspaper review.

Here are the dates of the two performances of the extensively revised version of John Williams's symphony, the original version of which was premiered by the Houston Symphony Orchestra in 1966:
1972/07/08 - André Previn conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in John Williams's symphony at the Albert Hall in Nottingham (not to be confused with the Royal Albert Hall in London) 1972/07/09 - André Previn conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in John Williams's symphony at the Royal Festival Hall in London, with Williams and fellow film composer Bernard Herrmann also in attendance

Thanks @Omen II I'll get those integrated into the timeline for the next update! 

This is such a wonderful idea @KittBash and gives some sense of what a hectic lifestyle Williams has led for most of his ninety-one years.  Thank you for your hard work on this so far!
 
I can see that you have the Filmharmonic '85 concert listed where John Williams conducted the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London in November 1985, however here are the dates of some of his other conducting gigs in the United Kingdom:
1976/10/30 - John Williams conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Filmharmonic '76 at the Royal Albert Hall 1978/02/16 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in The LSO in Space at the Royal Albert Hall 1980/10/18 - John Williams conducts the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Filmharmonic '80 at the Royal Albert Hall 1982/02/08 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in the open air sculpture court at the Barbican Centre in London 1982/02/09 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in the open air sculpture court at the Barbican Centre in London 1985/11/16 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in Filmharmonic '85 at the Royal Albert Hall 1996/06/26 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1996/06/28 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1996/06/30 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/01 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/02 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/03 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/04 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London  

This is such a wonderful idea @KittBash and gives some sense of what a hectic lifestyle Williams has led for most of his ninety-one years.  Thank you for your hard work on this so far!
 
I can see that you have the Filmharmonic '85 concert listed where John Williams conducted the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London in November 1985, however here are the dates of some of his other conducting gigs in the United Kingdom:
1976/10/30 - John Williams conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Filmharmonic '76 at the Royal Albert Hall 1978/02/16 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in The LSO in Space at the Royal Albert Hall 1980/10/18 - John Williams conducts the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Filmharmonic '80 at the Royal Albert Hall 1982/02/08 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in the open air sculpture court at the Barbican Centre in London 1982/02/09 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in the open air sculpture court at the Barbican Centre in London 1985/11/16 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in Filmharmonic '85 at the Royal Albert Hall 1996/06/26 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1996/06/28 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1996/06/30 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/01 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/02 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/03 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/04 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London  

This is such a wonderful idea @KittBash and gives some sense of what a hectic lifestyle Williams has led for most of his ninety-one years.  Thank you for your hard work on this so far!
 
I can see that you have the Filmharmonic '85 concert listed where John Williams conducted the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London in November 1985, however here are the dates of some of his other conducting gigs in the United Kingdom:
1976/10/30 - John Williams conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Filmharmonic '76 at the Royal Albert Hall 1978/02/16 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in The LSO in Space at the Royal Albert Hall 1980/10/18 - John Williams conducts the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Filmharmonic '80 at the Royal Albert Hall 1982/02/08 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in the open air sculpture court at the Barbican Centre in London 1982/02/09 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in the open air sculpture court at the Barbican Centre in London 1985/11/16 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in Filmharmonic '85 at the Royal Albert Hall 1996/06/26 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1996/06/28 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1996/06/30 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/01 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/02 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/03 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London 1998/07/04 - John Williams conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London