Will

And of course now it looks like they're sold out again. Will just have to keep checking throughout the fall in the hopes of random ticket drops.

I've been in the queue for 45 minutes...

Some of their responses to me have suggested that perhaps some normal tickets might be made available in the fall if the gala doesn't sell out. They've been a bit vague on what the time period is for that, though (perhaps to try to maximize gala/premium ticket sales). Understandable strategy but very frustrating for us because of the uncertainty. The one thing that gives me some hope is that I was able to get a concert-only ticket for the ASM concert (which was a similar gala event) just a few months before.

What's the status now? Sold out again? Was away from the computer earlier. Praying this is true...

2:15-2:33 Absolutely sublime. Gorgeous harmonies in the string interlude; the music swells as if rising in anticipation. Then a wistful, almost plaintive horn solo. About as trademark JW as you can get.

Lovely concert -- wonderful to hear the broadcast! Program is terrific. Wish he'd brought a program like this to New York in May (where he surprisingly only conducted encores and inexplicably didn't even include Helena's theme, unlike every other concert this year). Bad luck, but such is life I guess! Call of the Champions sounds really nice in this version -- great to hear that performed.

In addition to the passage from To Morocco that I mentioned in another thread yesterday, this passage from To Athens really struck me on first listen: Of course in some sense its function is just to transition from the (beautiful) rendition of Helena's theme to the Raiders march. But it really sounds like classic JW -- indeed it reminded me of some of his concert work, e.g. this whole section from the most recent violin concerto (through 8:00 or so): He does such a wonderful job building anticipation with these low brass notes over fast-paced strings.

More generally, particularly as to the second half of the album track (which I think is a separate cue), it's wonderful how daring JW is in his musical choices. How many other action movies are there today where a composer would write something that sounds like Sabrina? But JW does it, and makes it sound perfectly natural and not at all dated. Unfortunately, in the film itself, it seems that the cue is considerably shortened, with what sounds like an insert that replaces the most sweepingly romantic portion (no doubt, others have remarked on this in other threads -- it's been hard for me to keep up!). But I'm glad we get to hear it in its full glory on album.

Agree 100% with much of what has been said above. I'll add that my personal favorite bit is this hopeful, slightly adventurous section: I don't know what the technical musical terms are for this, but it sounds like pure classic JW. A short moment but so distinctively him. Love how it manages to be both playful and deeply nostalgic. Relatedly, it's also perfect for the moment it underscores on screen.

So do we know what role (if any) JW had in the material on the second disc? (e.g. "(In the) Moonlight [Party Instrumental #1]")

Fun concert! Disappointed not to get Helena’s Theme in the encores (shocking that it wasn’t included given that AFAIK literally every other recent concert of his included it). But overall it was well done. Got chills during Dear Basketball and the ET finale live to picture.

An official program has still not been posted. Interesting.

Ah, good catch! Let's wait to see the official program but I'm more optimistic now that JW will conduct a good chunk of the concert. (Since none of these pieces were listed on the program posted earlier in this thread.)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/darrynking/2023/04/17/a-celebration-of-film-composer-john-williams-with-the-new-york-philharmonic/ This article says Helena's Theme will be performed... If that's right, maybe there will be four encores? We can hope!

Yeah definitely no way I’d miss it — just frustrating if, just a month after conducting a full concert in Chicago, he doesn’t even conduct half in New York. Disappointing to have looked forward to him conducting a full (or at least second half) concert and now, just days before, hearing he might be conducting almost none of it. Obviously I agree though that it’s a privilege to be able to see him conduct at all.

Only the encores?! What?! I hope that isn’t true. When I bought tickets, the concert was literally called “Williams Conducts Williams.” I of course understand if Williams can only conduct half, but to market a concert as “Williams Conducts Williams” and then have him conduct only 3 pieces would be extraordinary misleading and frustrating. The tickets weren’t cheap!

Of Grit and Glory!

Yeah I'll be perfectly happy if Williams conducts the full second half and leaves the first half for Masur (which would be consistent with his practice at most concerts in the last decade). But if Masur does almost everything and JW only does encores, that would be a real letdown. Fingers crossed it's the former.

Hmm I have to say this wording is a bit concerning: "On April 25, Ken-David Masur conducts the New York Philharmonic in a night of Williams’s most popular music, with the composer himself sharing the podium." Hopefully this doesn't mean Masur will be conducting most of it. ---- In fact, the title used to be "Williams Conducts Williams" and now is "Celebrating John Williams." Welp... Hopefully just a stylistic change but...

Incredible: The Vienna Phil posted 15 minutes of ball footage, NONE of which (as far as I can tell) -- not even a second -- is from Williams' fanfare. https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/en/vienna-philharmonic-ball/2023 It's like they're teasing us at this point!

https://express.adobe.com/page/RNUVDPM7lS8cc/#john-williams-and-the-presidents-own

Wonderful news about him continuing to score Spielberg’s films!! Already had been hinted at but this was the most definitive statement yet.

Yeah if JW wins the Oscar then this obviously will be forgotten. Fingers crossed... He really deserves another one.

Just FYI, anyone with a cable subscription (or ESPN+ subscription perhaps?) can watch a replay of the game at https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/4f2ca7b5-a367-4e3e-ace0-715ae6e3b47e. (The replay starts after the full video was aired, but covers the great short version heard during halftime as well as various excerpts and bumpers).