Judy

The entire premise of the show is that it's John Williams composed music! Am I wrong about that? Clue me in if I'm wrong! Isn't the point of a show called "John Williams Returns" to be performing John Williams scores? I'm there to see John Williams's movie scores! Not movie scores by other composers! The last thing on Earth I'd ever want is for JW to "over do it" and risk exhaustion from too long/too many live performances in a row. The fact that FOUR two-hour performances, four days in a ROW were scheduled did NOT GO UNNOTICED by me as a RISK for exhaustion. But there was absolutely NO indication that these shows would NOT be 100% conducted by JW! That fact was ABSOLUTELY a HUGE factor in my purchase of tickets for this show, on the day they went on sale! I also specifically asked the box office agent for choir seating -- and was told that there wouldn't BE ANY, as there would be a movie screen set up behind the orchestra. The tickets I bought to this show were NOT CHEAP -- based upon the claim that this was a concert of JW movie scores conducted by JW himself. Knowing JW's age, I highly suspect that CSO was fully aware that JW wasn't going to be able to conduct all 4 shows 100% himself WHEN THEY CONCERTS WERE SCHEDULED. Yet they marketed the 4 shows as exclusively conducted by JW anyway. Honesty up front isn't too much to ask, is it? Then again, I guess we're dealing with CHICAGO.

I agree with you. When four shows, four days in a row were announced, I was quite surprised TBH. But that still is not my point of contention. I bought tickets to THIS show, spending thousands more to fly in from out of state BECAUSE it was advertised as being conducted by John Williams. Not 1/2 guest and 1/2 Williams. I'm not sure I would have bought tickets to this show if I'd known in advance it was 1/2 Kaufman & 1/2 Williams. That's called "bait & switch".

Again, that's not the point.

I'll probably be happy with the performance too. That's not my point though. My point is that they advertised the concerts as something they are not. And I bought tickets based upon what they advertised. It's called "False Advertising", and it's illegal to do so in the U.S. I can go see orchestras performing John William's scores anywhere. I paid to see John Williams, not Kaufman.

Frankly, I'm extremely irritated about the Kaufman and 'no movie screen' announcement. I bought tickets for this show the day they went on sale in August. I'm flying in with my whole family from out of state. We bought these tickets BECAUSE John Williams was advertised as the conductor, and there would be a movie screen. This is a clear, cut & dry case of "bait and switch". I'll be calling the box office to let them know exactly how I feel about this.