tmarps

Too traditional? The Berliner recorded George Fenton's Deep Blue in 2003, and later had a full concert of film music with Rattle. I wouldn't have expected them to refuse to play Williams, and even less so after Vienna.
 
But I imagine with his pending US concerts, the Corona lockdown, and his advancing age, if Williams returns to Europe once more I'd imagine it'd be for the LSO or another Vienna gig.

Firstly - lets start to refer to the "drums" as percussion. Secondly, I don't think the score needed the added "21st century soundtrack" sounding percussion. Powell is not a disinteresting composer - not one of the greatest either though, but the score really could stand on its own without cheapening it with this modern take on Star Wars. The reason why it sounds so fabulous when Williams uses percussion like that (think the opening chase of Attack of the Clones, or maybe Chrome Dome?) is because he uses this soundscape so scarcely. His music is good enough to stand on its own without Hans Zimmer in the background, and I don't think the majority of the Solo score needed them either.

Thanks to @mahler3 for sending me the link
 
 

I’m so glad I could be at both. I feel like the Vienna set was filled with more rare gems that I really won’t hear as often, and also in some places, was more grounded in what JW may have thought was “better” music for the environment (ie the presence of so many ASM moments and the Shark Cage Fugue) as well as the crowd pleasers we had in London. 

If not for that bloody humming, it would be the perfect recording!

The perspective is important. To many in California, Williams is a hero, but also a local musician who lives in the other part of L.A., and from time to time conducts something locally, can be seen behind the scenes or randomly if one is lucky, or seen at a local concert. To many Americans he is a compatriot from one of the bigger cities and a famous conductor of a popular national orchestra.
 
To continental Europeans he is a hero from faraway, only ever heard or seen through a screen or other mechanical medium, who has never really interacted with their countries or even continent.. Most of even the biggest fans have already come to terms with the reality that they will never see him in the same world they live in.
 
So yes, it was quite a coming!
 
The fervent applauses were not because of the music really, the way one would measure if a Bruckner symphony was played well, but because, each time they were only allowed to, people wanted to thank him for being there for them.

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The score asks for 112 bpm. Williams takes the Vienna performance on average at about 100. But you’re right it is noticeably slower but I think I like it. I listened back to the Dirk Brosse/LSO Royal Albert Hall performance of the March and it seems far too fast now in comparison, although at the time it was the best I had ever heard the imperial March performed 

The score asks for 112 bpm. Williams takes the Vienna performance on average at about 100. But you’re right it is noticeably slower but I think I like it. I listened back to the Dirk Brosse/LSO Royal Albert Hall performance of the March and it seems far too fast now in comparison, although at the time it was the best I had ever heard the imperial March performed 

Just listened back to the broadcast that Classic FM "premiered" the Imperial March on. The Imperial March sounds great - even in low res radio streaming. However, the opening applause and cheers have disappeared from the recording. The snare drum late entry is still there from the Sunday performance, so I'm wondering why the eruption of applause at the opening of the piece is missing... maybe this was one of the re-recordings in the "patch-up" sessions after the concert. Sounds good though, despite being maybe just slightly underspeed. Ending is phenomenal, love the rall in the last bar. No applause at the end either.... interesting 

Haha, that worked

What a long journey from that moment:
to that:
 
40 years of hard work to the first one, and another 40 years of hard work to the second one.

Global’s (company that own Classic FM as well as basically every other commercial radio station) catch up player - Bill Turnbull’s show from today (3 May)

While I loved the concert I attended I must admit it pains me a bit to see Williams – despite the tremendous energy for his age – conducting in the clip above. He already can’t keep his tempo at the opening bars of Hook and that’s why the horns are late. No wonder the concert master looked stressed like hell. I hope they can stitch together a polished product from the two concerts.

Or disco versions.

What a great thing that will be for your students this fall! Must be so exciting! I already sense it’s going to be a huge hit. 
 
Unfortunately, I have nothing to contribute in terms of materials. But I’m more than happy to offer to review your syllabus; proofread each week’s lecture notes, slides and handouts; test each week the quality of the USC campus’s WiFi by live streaming your lectures from my house, and taking JW to lunch after class if you ever have him in to guest-speak. Really, it’d be no trouble at all.😉

Very nice playlist, of course.
 
My additions would be:
 
The Sail Barge Assault - ROTJ
I think it really showcases Luke's heroism and maturity from the ending of ESB.  He's even the only one mindful of the droids "Let's go, and don't forget the droids."  It's also just one hell of an action cue.
 
Parade of the Ewoks - ROTJ
People might dislike the Ewoks, but it's hard denying their lovely theme.  But so much of that movie takes place on Endor, that it's hard to not have their theme in an ultimate playlist.
 
Han and Leia - TFA
It's the last time they are together before Han is killed and has some really warm moments with Poe and Finn reunited.

They tried for years, apparently. When Williams wasn't interested, they helped establish the Philharmoniker connection instead. And we should be thankful for that, because we got two excellent concerts with great acoustics and a solid programme instead of an bombastic light show with amplified sound and butchered medleys.

I love JW!

Everything necessary to prepare the content for these releases should be possible without physically having multiple people at the same location - possibly even from home. I imagine it's only the production of the physical release that might have to wait until things are up and running again. Though that still might delay them for several months if we're unlucky.
 
Meanwhile, a friend tells me that the concert is scheduled to be broadcast on ServusTV on 1 June, at 10:00 and again at 22:15.
 
 

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I think he does that on frequent basis already.

When are we getting this damn disc??? C'mon DG I need to hear the Vienna Phil give me that last G minor chord at the end of Shark Cage Fugue again!!!