John Williams to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic - January 18/19 2020

[rough cut 574]

I regret that I missed the London meetup.

 

I hope we can all meet up for some good Austrian beer during the weekend!

 

I don’t know how or when this happened, or what emotional scar from my childhood that triggered this, but it would actually be nice to see some of you schmoes IRL... 

[Jurassic Shark 3809]

14 minutes ago, rough cut said:

I don’t know how or when this happened, or what emotional scar from my childhood that triggered this, but it would actually be nice to see some of you schmoes IRL... 

 

Good one! 

[eitam 3]

Looks like the program is somewhat changed:

 

Olympic Fanfare and Theme

Excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Flight to Neverland

Rey's Theme

Donnybrook Fair

Remembrances

Hedwig's Theme

Adventures on Earth

--- Intermission ---

Theme from Jurassic Park

Dartmoor, 1912

Out to Sea / Shark Cage Fugue

Marion's Theme

The Rebellion Is Reborn

Luke & Leia

Star Wars Main Theme

[Thor 2501]

Just now, eitam said:

Olympic Fanfare and Theme

 

Substituting "Sound the Bells!"? Poor choice. Nothing against "Olympic Fanfare and Theme", but "Sound the Bells!" is a more unsual and refreshing choice.

[Jurassic Shark 3809]

I guess they had to choose something that Dudamel knows how to conduct.

[First TROS March Accolyte 1190]

3 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

I guess they had to choose something that Dudamel knows how to conduct.

At first I thought:

Oh no... For a moment I was under the impression that Williams will conduct everything himself.

but then:

Wait. I will get to see Gustavo Dudamel as well?  

 

[Jurassic Shark 3809]

I can't guarantee you'll be able to see him, unless he wears his high heels.

[Biodome 95]

So they replaced 5 pieces with 5 other pieces. That's a pretty big change. Perhaps even this is not the programme's final form.

[Jay 12375]

Wasn't this already discussed 2 pages ago?  Or are you saying it changed again?

 

On 10/22/2019 at 5:33 AM, rough cut said:

It seems JW has updated the program for this concert in 2020 compared to  the cancelled one.

 

Newly added:

Sound the Bells

Across the Stars from “Attack of the Clones”

Donnybrook Fair from “Far and Away”

Remembrances from “Schindler’s List”

Raiders March from “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

Out to Sea / Shark Cage Fugue from “Jaws”

Love Theme from “Superman”

 

Missing:

Olympic Fanfare and Theme

Suite from "Memoirs of a Geisha"

Nimbus 2000 from "Harry Potter" 
Harry's Wondrous World from "Harry Potter"

 

No change:

The Flight to Neverland from “Hook”

Excepts from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind“

Adventures on Earth from "E.T.”

A Child’s Tale, Suite from "The Big Friendly Giant" 
Hedwig’s Theme from "Harry Potter"

The Rebellion Is Reborn from "The Last Jedi" 
Rey's Theme from "The Force Awakens" 
Main Title from "Star Wars"

 

I much prefer the updated set we’re getting in 2020. 

 

[Biodome 95]

1 minute ago, Jay said:

Wasn't this already discussed 2 pages ago?  Or are you saying it changed again?

That post compared the programme of the cancelled concert, with the initial programme of the 2020 concert. Now, the 2020 programme has been changed.

Removed:
1. Sound the Bells!
2. Across The Stars
3. Raiders March
4. A Child's Tale
5. Love Theme from Superman

Added:
1. Olympic Fanfare and Theme
2. Luke & Leia
3. Marion's Theme
4. Theme from Jurassic Park
5. Dartmoor, 1912

[First TROS March Accolyte 1190]

16 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

I can't guarantee you'll be able to see him, unless he wears his high heels.

I'll be sitting just 5 meters away from the conductor. Unless the three trolls from the Hobbit bought seats in front of me, I will be fine.

[Jay 12375]

Man I wonder why the program keeps changing

[First TROS March Accolyte 1190]

17 minutes ago, Jay said:

Man I wonder why the program keeps changing

I suspect that at least 4 of the pieces removed

(2. Across The Stars
3. Raiders March
4. A Child's Tale
5. Love Theme from Superman)

 

have been removed at the behest of the VPO, or, if by Williams---in an anticipation of a poor response of the orchestra / concert hall directors

 

A Child's Tale for coming from a film for kids, not suitable for a concert where there will be none (at least not relatively to other potential choices; see: piece from the equally recent and much more mature War Horse)

Raiders March for associations of campiness / silliness -> replaced by Jurassic Park, which also was something that was sorely missing considering it's position in Williams' career

Superman Love Theme for similarities to Strauss that Marian has mentioned -> replaced by Marion's Theme, which doubles as a representation of Indiana Jones

Across the Stars for in turn getting too close to Tchaikovsky -> replaced by the more original Luke & Leia

[Biodome 95]

The new programme is unacceptable. I want a refund!

[crumbs 6026]

Rotten timing being away while this happened. I didn't bother with the membership figuring I'd miss the tickets with the unpredictable wifi here. I'll try for Thursday on the assumption there's good tickets left.

 

Can anyone confirm the exact time they go on sale on their website, with time zone?

[Biodome 95]

1 minute ago, crumbs said:

Can anyone confirm the exact time they go on sale on their website, with time zone?

09:00 CEST 

[crumbs 6026]

And which seating categories should I go for if I want a seat in the front seating section, front row, or front row of the balcony towards to the front of the theatre? Or are those seats basically all gone now?

 

I have to buy tickets on my phone so who knows what I'll be able to select. Do you get to choose the actual seat or is just assigned to you randomly?

[moz_1983 13]

Very disappointed to have lost the Raiders March, but it's been my lifelong dream to see JW conduct the Jurassic Park theme. I will cry tears of joy and I'm not even exaggerating.

17 minutes ago, crumbs said:

Rotten timing being away while this happened. I didn't bother with the membership figuring I'd miss the tickets with the unpredictable wifi here. I'll try for Thursday on the assumption there's good tickets left.

 

Can anyone confirm the exact time they go on sale on their website, with time zone?
 

8am UK time if that helps. Most decent tickets have gone, so I'd be prompt with whatever's left when it does go on sale.

 

 

12 minutes ago, crumbs said:

I have to buy tickets on my phone so who knows what I'll be able to select. Do you get to choose the actual seat or is just assigned to you randomly?

 

Both. You can choose 'best seats' which auto allocates or choose tickets on a 3d map of the venue.

16 minutes ago, crumbs said:

And which seating categories should I go for if I want a seat in the front seating section, front row, or front row of the balcony towards to the front of the theatre? Or are those seats basically all gone now?

 

I could sort you one if you want (I have a membership)...

[Biodome 95]

8 minutes ago, crumbs said:

And which seating categories should I go for if I want a seat in the front seating section, front row, or front row of the balcony towards to the front of the theatre? Or are those seats basically all gone now?

 

I have to buy tickets on my phone so who knows what I'll be able to select. Do you get to choose the actual seat or is just assigned to you randomly?

You can get a seat assigned to yourself automatically, according to your chosen price category, which is actually the default option. In order to pick your own seat, you have to click on the "3D view" button when you want to buy tickets, which shows you a view of the hall, with available areas that you can pick, and then actual seats within those areas.

For the 18th, this is what is available, unless they've reserved some seats for the general sale:



For the concert on the 19th, you have more options.

[SteveMc 1790]

Love the excitement here, and very jealous.

I'll let you guys know if by some miracle I'll be in the neighborhood come January. 

[Timo Martikainen 33]

Some people have been guessing Dudamel being the second conductor but he's already reserved for the New York Philharmonic. 

 

I might like the new concert program more than the earlier one, but hate to see BFG removed. 

[Biodome 95]

21 minutes ago, moz_1983 said:

Very disappointed to have lost the Raiders March

There will probably be an encore, and the Raiders March could re-appear there. They played that as an encore during the LSO concert at RAH last year.

[moz_1983 13]

2 minutes ago, Biodome said:

There will probably be an encore, and the Raiders March could re-appear there. They played that as an encore during the LSO concert at RAH last year.

 

OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD. I'm just unbelievably excited about this (again). I'm trying to temper my expectations following last year but I can't. The guy's clearly absolutely determined to do this before he retires! This is my  one and only chance 

[TownerFan 2429]

58 minutes ago, Jay said:

Man I wonder why the program keeps changing

 

Perhaps it's JW that is still undecided about a few things and is moving up things a little. It's a once-in-a-lifetime concert for him as well, so I can imagine him being very thoughtful about what to perform with this specific orchestra on such an occsasion.

 

Given what looks like the four violin pieces from Across the Stars album in the first half, I'm still dreaming about Mutter being announced as a surprise guest later on

 

9 minutes ago, Timo Martikainen said:

Some people have been guessing Dudamel being the second conductor but he's already reserved for the New York Philharmonic.

 

I was the one guessing. I'm more than pleased to have guessed wrong! It looks like it's going to be fully conducted by JW.

[SteveMc 1790]

The Love Theme from Superman paraphrases Strauss, yes, but I think that is a strength of the piece.  I could see why John chose to omit it, though.    

 

JP is a good choice, considering that it was recently played by the Brits.

 

Across The Stars will be missed, but Luke and Leia is the stronger symphonic composition.

 

Very glad that a War Horse piece was added in.

 

Sound The Bells is nice, but the Olympic Fanfare and Theme is essential.  I do hope the original is programmed.

 

I know John's schedule is probably too tight for it, but a special concert overture written for the occasion would have been most fitting.

 

 

[Biodome 95]

1 minute ago, moz_1983 said:

 

OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD. I'm just unbelievably excited about this (again). I'm trying to temper my expectations following last year but I can't. The guy's clearly absolutely determined to do this before he retires! This is my  one and only chance 

I sympathise with you on this! I have never seen Williams live, and last year was the closest that I ever got to experiencing that. I live in Europe, and I don't think I could afford going to the U.S. right now, so I can't wait for this concert, which seems like a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

[GlastoEls 37]

2 minutes ago, Biodome said:

I sympathise with you on this! I have never seen Williams live, and last year was the closest that I ever got to experiencing that. I live in Europe, and I don't think I could afford going to the U.S. right now, so I can't wait for this concert, which seems like a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

 

I feel the same, and to have JW conducting at the RAH - just four miles from my flat, and where I've seen loads of concerts/gigs over the years - was unthinkable last year! 

 

So I'm also grabbing this Vienna trip with both hands.

[lemoncurd 133]

15 hours ago, lemoncurd said:

I bought two tickets for Sunday, but might need only one. If my dad won't come with me I'll let you guys know Should be nice to meet many of you. 

 

FYI I will go by train from Berlin. 

I also bought two standing tickets for Saturday. 

[St0rMl0rD 53]

The new program is my dream setlist, thank you thank you thank you!

[ChrisAfonso 61]

For everyone who's a Musikverein member, apparently you can buy additional tickets today (I reached the limit yesterday with 4 per concert, but was able to buy another ticket today).

[Remco 268]

Mutter is free, they’re playing pieces from their album, and she has a concert with the VPO earlier that month.... We’ll have to wait until official confirmation but I expect her to be there!

[Biodome 95]

6 minutes ago, Remco said:

Mutter is free, they’re playing pieces from their album, and she has a concert with the VPO earlier that month.... We’ll have to wait until official confirmation but I expect her to be there!

She has a concert on the 21st in the U.S., but I suppose she could also appear in Vienna.

[Remco 268]

I’m sure she can :-)

[crocodile 4054]

14 minutes ago, Remco said:

Mutter is free, they’re playing pieces from their album, and she has a concert with the VPO earlier that month.... We’ll have to wait until official confirmation but I expect her to be there!

I'm sure she wouldn't miss such a chance. I'm hoping to hear her version of Hedwig's theme and Rey's theme.

 

Hey, maybe he'll play something from the new SW film as an encore.

 

Karol

[GlastoEls 37]

48 minutes ago, crocodile said:

I'm sure she wouldn't miss such a chance. I'm hoping to hear her version of Hedwig's theme and Rey's theme.

 

Hey, maybe he'll play something from the new SW film as an encore.

 

Karol

 

Dearly hoping for both of those things!

[Marian Schedenig 1979]

4 hours ago, Modest Expectations said:

A Child's Tale for coming from a film for kids, not suitable for a concert where there will be none (at least not relatively to other potential choices; see: piece from the equally recent and much more mature War Horse)

 

I'm only half sorry to see that go, since I already heard it in the LSO concert, but I would have loved to hear it again by the Philharmoniker nonetheless. As far as orchestral colours go, it's a brilliant piece.

 

4 hours ago, Modest Expectations said:

Raiders March for associations of campiness / silliness -> replaced by Jurassic Park, which also was something that was sorely missing considering it's position in Williams' career

 

I very much expect it to reappear as an encore.

 

4 hours ago, Modest Expectations said:

Superman Love Theme for similarities to Strauss that Marian has mentioned -> replaced by Marion's Theme, which doubles as a representation of Indiana Jones

 

It's not one of my favourites, but I'm still sad they're dropping it, because 1) whenever Williams puts something on a programme he hasn't played in years, there's a good chance he's done a new arrangement of it and 2) if not, it surely would have been fun for the Wiener horns.

 

4 hours ago, Modest Expectations said:

Across the Stars for in turn getting too close to Tchaikovsky -> replaced by the more original Luke & Leia

 

Apparently replaced by Rey's Theme, which was originally listed at the end of the programme but now has been moved to what clearly looks like the solo violin section. I could do without Luke and Leia though, especially since I'm sure it's going to be the awkward shorted version.

 

4 hours ago, Jay said:

Man I wonder why the program keeps changing

 

I wonder who's responsible for publishing it. I mean, replacing Olympic Fanfare with Sound the Bells isn't something someone does without giving it a lot of thought, so why go back to the fanfare just a few days later? That said, I'm sad we won't get Bells, but more than that I'm sure the fanfare will sound fantastic.

 

And in any case, I'm done with getting too hyped about the programme. Who knows how much more they're going to change until January.

2 hours ago, crocodile said:

Hey, maybe he'll play something from the new SW film as an encore.

 

I'd rather expect that. How could Williams skip his one chance to conduct the Philharmoniker in a world premiere?

 

I suppose likely candidates for the encores are the Raider's March, the Imperial March, and something from ROTS. Though he could also want to squeeze in Yoda there, but I'd be very sad to see the Imperial March go.

 

Also, I wonder if the first half will feature a violin encore. Like The Devil's Dance (which could also mean we'll have a recording of it). Or Dracula.

[First TROS March Accolyte 1190]

39 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said:

How could Williams skip his one chance to conduct the Philharmoniker in a world premiere?

I'll do you one better:

How could Williams skip his one chance to tell the Schindler's List anecdote there? That would be beyond hilarious.

[rough cut 574]

8 hours ago, Biodome said:

Removed:
1. Sound the Bells!
2. Across The Stars
3. Raiders March
4. A Child's Tale
5. Love Theme from Superman

Added:
1. Olympic Fanfare and Theme
2. Luke & Leia
3. Marion's Theme
4. Theme from Jurassic Park
5. Dartmoor, 1912

 

Very sad we lost Love Theme from Superman and Across The Stars and Raiders March...

[Mr. Breathmask 403]

I'm getting to see John Williams conduct an orchestra in real life. I still have a hard time believing this is something that will happen within three months from now. He could conduct Pirates of the Caribbean for all I care.

[apples 17]

9 hours ago, Biodome said:

You can get a seat assigned to yourself automatically, according to your chosen price category, which is actually the default option. In order to pick your own seat, you have to click on the "3D view" button when you want to buy tickets, which shows you a view of the hall, with available areas that you can pick, and then actual seats within those areas.

For the 18th, this is what is available, unless they've reserved some seats for the general sale:



For the concert on the 19th, you have more options.

Thats all thats left? Fuck my life...

[crumbs 6026]

7 hours ago, Biodome said:

You can get a seat assigned to yourself automatically, according to your chosen price category, which is actually the default option. In order to pick your own seat, you have to click on the "3D view" button when you want to buy tickets, which shows you a view of the hall, with available areas that you can pick, and then actual seats within those areas.

For the 18th, this is what is available, unless they've reserved some seats for the general sale:



For the concert on the 19th, you have more options.

 

Shit really, that's all that's left? What about the 19th?

 

Is it likely they've reserved some good seats up front for the general public?

7 hours ago, moz_1983 said:

I could sort you one if you want (I have a membership)... 

 

Based on those images above, are those the only ones available on the Saturday? Way at the back and some halfway down off to the side?

 

Do you know which seating categories they correspond to? Sorry for all the questions. Just a little tricky working out whether to take the plunge on this considering the distance.

[Biodome 95]

2 hours ago, crumbs said:

Shit really, that's all that's left? What about the 19th?

 

The 19th is similar, but you've got some more seats to choose from in the back:

 

 

I don't know why the seats have gone so fast. I too remember that last year there were some decent ones even days after the start of the general sale. It looks like the word about the concerts has spread much faster this time, and, perhaps, the coincidence with the Star Wars hype has attracted more people.

 

There is no convenient diagram for which seats correspond to which prices this time. You have to click on the seats to get a price. But the diagram from last year looks similar, so you could get an idea of what it would cost:

 

[crumbs 6026]

Why are the 59 euro blue seats right on stage so cheap? You're right there next to the orchestra looking straight at Williams!

 

Is there something blocking your view or is it just because of the acoustics?

[Stefancos 9658]

Its a weird angle from the orchestra I guess.

[crumbs 6026]

I'm really holding out hope they reserved a lot of good seats for general public, otherwise I'll be at the mercy of any spares someone might be willing to sell me. Don't really want to fly all the way to Vienna just to sit at the back of the concert hall and squint trying to make out Williams' face.

[Mcbain 2]

Does anyone know if there's an online queue system like in the Royal Albert Hall or if we're just supposed to wait for 9AM on the concert's page?

[Jurassic Shark 3809]

1 hour ago, crumbs said:

I'm really holding out hope they reserved a lot of good seats for general public, otherwise I'll be at the mercy of any spares someone might be willing to sell me. Don't really want to fly all the way to Vienna just to sit at the back of the concert hall and squint trying to make out Williams' face.

 

You need one of these!

 

[First TROS March Accolyte 1190]

5 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

You need one of these!

Fixed.

[alawill75 20]

Good luck everyone!

[crumbs 6026]

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