MrScratch

So, my Dad (who still gets newspapers, bless him) saved me the review of this concert from the Washington Post. It was the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, per the article.

OK, yeah whoever they were they blew the roof off the place!

Also needs mentioning: The Olympic Fanfare and Theme was a killer performance. The brass from the Marine Corps band (I think it was…?) joined the orchestra and they absolutely nailed it. Anyone get a picture of that?

The Duel with Mutter and Ma was a back and forth between violin and cello, they made gestures towards each other throughout and at a couple points drew their bows at each other. It was pretty fun. Here they are after The Duel while the audience applauds. The crowd laughed at their sparring during the piece.

The Superman March was played over a fantastic montage of stills and clips of Williams, some of which I’ve never seen. I hope someone got that, it was great. After Throne Room, all of the guests returned to the stage together to applaud Johnny. The orchestra started playing Happy Birthday and the entire concert hall sang to him. Then gold streamers and confetti shot out from the balconies. Deneve then handed Williams the baton and motioned him towards the podium. Williams conducted The Imperial March, the only encore.

Daisy Ridley made an appearance and sang John a sultry rendition of “Happy Birthday”

Wow, they seated all the JWfanners together!

I figured he was somewhere in the audience, I was looking around for him. So cool to realize he was right upstairs from me. If my seats were a couple more to my left I wouldn’t have been able to see him sitting up there. I didn’t get any pics of him conducting, the ushers were quite strict with that. But I did snap these two

Williams was sitting in the balcony right over our seats during the first half.

“The Eleventh Commandment” has that biblical/resurrection vibe.

“United Nations/Net Man” kicks total ass.

I am so tempted to go to the JP LTP but I don't think I can swing it... please document all questions asked and answered.

The Baltimore Symphony, Seeking Cuts, Locks Out Its Musicians - The New York Times (nytimes.com) Their contract was up and they couldn't agree to terms, the BSO was not in good shape financially and they had recently announced they wouldn't perform summer concerts anymore, which the musicians also disputed.

In Baltimore, where I live. Those concerts were originally scheduled for 2019 but they were postponed twice, first because of a musicians strike and then again because of covid. So I have been waiting almost 3 years for those!