Foxfan

It turns out they ARE coming to Ottawa (the day before Montreal). I just bought a ticket today.

Darn. They're doing Montreal and Toronto but not Ottawa in between (I noticed they're not doing Washington, DC either). Since both of these are on weeknights I won't be able to make it. I'm a little skeptical too about how this might sound. Amplified orchestra in a hockey arena? Isssshh! Would have been a lot better in an actual concert hall... it's pretty obvious that their only focus is selling as many seats as possible.

Most likely they'll blackout the concert for the radio's streaming broadcast and only broadcast the concert locally (like WCRB does with the Boston concerts). As for "Dracula", yes that would be nice to hear. If he would have played that along with Jaws, Jurassic Park, Always, 1941, Born on the 4th, etc. the first half could have been a Universal tribute (already have ET and Far and Away). I'm still hoping for "Accidental Tourist" as an encore during the WB tribute (we already know Harry Potter will be one of them).

Here's the official program. http://www.bso.org/images/program_notes/20090718.pdf Harry Potter isn't listed, so I guess it's the "surprise" encore.

More details of the program revealed in the latest press release. It turns out it won't be a WB-only concert, which diminishes the chances of hearing AI, Accidental Tourist and Empire of the Sun... SATURDAY, JULY 18 – JOHN WILLIAMS AND THE BOSTON POPS, FILM NIGHT AT TANGLEWOOD, 8:30 P.M., SHED One of the most popular evenings of each summer’s festival is the lively Film Night at Tanglewood. Boston Pops’ Laureate Conductor John Williams lends his unparalleled expertise to an evening celebrating the colorful legacy of Hollywood’s Warner Brothers dynasty. The evening features excerpts from classic film scores accompanying thematic montages and film clips from some of the studio’s legendary movies including Casablanca and The Seahawk, as well as selections from Williams’ own scores for Superman and Harry Potter.The evening will also include tributes to Errol Flynn, James Dean, and Bette Davis, three of Hollywood’s greatest stars. The evening’s first half will feature selections from popular Williams scores, including Suites from E.T. The Extra-Terestrial and Far and Away. I'll be attending just to hear the bombastic end of that Far and Away suite live though...

I wish I could have heard that "Far and Away" piece live. I only heard the one for solo violin in concert before but the "end credits" arrangement he performed has such a bombastic ending that must be awesome to hear in Symphony Hall. Speaking of which does anyone have the score for that arrangement? It has an irregular time signature and I'd really like to know where the meter changes are.

You're much better off getting shed tickets (I noticed they're still available surprisingly). The lawn is not shaped like the Hollywood Bowl, so unless you're right in front, you won't have any direct line of sight. Having to watch on video screens and listen to amplified sound from the back of the lawn defeats the purpose of attending a "live" concert. Plus you never know if it might rain.

Well as this will be the next Williams concert I guess it's time to bump this thread. Got my ticket but not sure if I'm going yet. Waiting to see if the lesser-known Williams WB scores listed above will be included in the program...

Hearing "Spacecamp" live would be awesome!!! Yeah! Unfortunately it isn't listed in the press release, but maybe as an encore? On the bright side though we know there will be Williams' music being performed. They will be showing a new film set to the Finale from "American Journey". http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/press_detail.jsp?id=38100002

Hmmm... I'm hoping Lockhart makes them play "Stargazers" at the Apollo 11 concert I'm attending in two weeks. I already sent in a letter requesting "Spacecamp", but it would be nice to hear both.

Williams' recording of Candide and Wonderful Town on the "American Classics" CD is unbeatable. It really depends on the specific Boston Pops recording (their version of Star Wars - Main Title) is quite dull indeed. In almost every recording though there's something I either like/dislike (one part is too slow, another too fast, one recording too brassy, another too muddy, etc). I wonder how much it would cost to rent out an orchestra for a day so I can make my own recordings just the way I want.

It's unfortunate that more and more of the Saturday night concerts are exclusive engagements for groups. That's the night when most of us from outside Boston would be able to come. Like a few years ago I came down from QC, others flew in from NJ or MI... much easier to arrange a JW Fan meetup on a day where we're not at work. The Boston Pops isn't just Boston's orchestra, it's AMERICA'S ORCHESTERA!

Adventures on Earth is the one time that I don't like a concert arrangement done by Williams. The original film version is so much better and can stand very well on its own. I hate the way the concert version gets interrupted right at the climax. Besides, it isn't that much shorter than the film version, so what was the point?

Greyhound from NYC is like $15. Unfortunately I can't go to the Williams concert, even though I'm seeing right now that I can get front row seats for the Wednesday concert at $40, but since I have to work and there's no public concert on Saturday, I'll wait until Tanglewood to see JW. I did however get tickets for the Apollo 11 Tribute concert on June 13th. Should be really BIG. Holst's "The Planets" along with other patriotic and space music. Please play "Spacecamp"!!!

I was thinking about that the other day. It's hard to find a comedy these days as great as "Grumpy Old Men" or "Planes Trains and Automobiles". Now it's all these stupid Will Farrell / Mike Myers types of movies.

Nice thanks. But did anyone notice Williams was as much as one beat behind the orchestra in the final fanfare at the end? It looks like he wanted them to slow down but they kept playing at a regular pace.

They just played the HP Grand Suite last year (and have been playing HP at almost every concert in six years)! It's getting old! I'm really hoping for some lesser-known Williams works.

Harry Potter yet again. I welcome Superman as it is relatively rare now, but as this is a WB tribute maybe we can expect Witches of Eastwick, Artificial Intelligence, Rosewood, JFK, Presumed Innocent, Accidental Tourist and Empire of the Sun. Could be very interesting... I wonder if this will become a regular thing (a tribute to each studio). Can't wait for "Williams at Fox" to hear Monsignor and Minority Report.

They did "Home Alone"??? Darn! I wanted to go this year but decided not too because I didn't see it in the program. I wish the Pops would release their complete programs ahead of time so I know whether to go or not. So many times I decided not to go because I wasn't interested in what was advertised but there was unannounced stuff played that I missed, and others where I went to their concert and was severely let down.

I noticed the different pitch right away when I heard the Fox fanfare at the beginning of my "Titanic" Region-2 DVD. I also noticed when hearing The X-Files theme on the french version on TV. Does that mean I have perfect pitch? Some say it's just a good memory (of what something should sound like) rather than musical/hearing ability.

Yeah concerts are in May and season usually gets announced at the end of February or early March. Also conducts a couple concerts at Tanglewood near Albany in July/August. He did conduct a Holiday Pops concert (featuring Home Alone) in Boston a couple years ago but there is no info on the Holiday concerts even though they're already selling tickets. I go almost every year in May but I would love to go during Christmas time if Williams would be featured.

Yeah. I've started to really like Dvorak's 5th also. I'm looking to broaden my horizons though. Any hidden symphonic gems that sound big, folksy and melodic like the two symphonies I mentioned?

Iish. Don't want to sound picky, but anyone hear that horrible shreiky false note from the trumpets right in the last reprise of the "fate" theme near the end of the 4th movement? I think I remember some people on this board also complain about the brass section during Williams' concert there last year.

One of my favorite "non-film" symphonies next to Dvorak's 9th. First movement right now, seems OK, but the brass seems brass seems weak "sputtery" (not sure what the exact description would be). Can't wait for the 4th movement (hopefully they can play the ending without slowing down).

Anyone else here going to this? Keith is also doing Bernstein's "On the Town" and Previn is doing Tcaikovsky's 1812 Overture. http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/perf_detail.js...pid=prod2110025 I have two tickets right on the edge of the stage (section 3) but haven't found anyone else to go with. Anyone interested?