John Williams hopes "to be in Berlin in October conducting the orchestra"

[tmarps 197]

In a BBC Radio 4 interview from this morning, John Williams mentions that he "[hopes] to be in Berlin in October conducting the orchestra". Is this the first we have heard of a potential concert with what sounds like the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra?? What do you make of this? Interview starts at 7:40am (1h40min in) but JW mentions Berlin at 7:44am, (1h44min in)? 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ph3t 

 

If this is to be true and the vaccines are here to enable us to see concerts again, it is amazing to hear JW is still able and willing to work!! 

[Steve 194]

Sarah Willis (BPO horn) talked about a potential Williams concert that didn't happen in an interview this year. So who know? I think they have tried to get him come to Berlin for a few years. As I'm from Germany, this would be great! However, not sure if Williams will travel so far away anymore and we don't know if the vaccine is effective for people of his age.

[MaxTheHouseelf 79]

Yup, definitely sounds like he's planning to come to Europe next year again. Wow!

[Jurassic Shark 7108]

He'll conduct via a pre-recorded video message.

[Thor 4305]

As someone who missed out on the Vienna concert, this would be great. But I highly doubt it's going to happen.

 

But hey -- Morricone travelled to LA when he was about the same age, and he was in worse shape than JW is now, so who knows?

[carlborg 269]

[Biodome 349]

[tmarps 197]

3 minutes ago, Biodome said:

 

Brilliant hahaha 

[Quintus 5323]

It was bizarre to start up my engine this morning for my commute to hear John's immediately recognisable croaky tones coming out of the radio. He was speaking over the phone. 

 

In the same interview he also said he "believes" the vaccines will be effective and get us all moving again, including allowing him to get to Berlin next October. 

[GerateWohl 642]

That would actually be a dream come true.

I must go there if it is going to happen.

 

[Jurassic Shark 7108]

I think it will happen regardless of you going there.

[Biodome 349]

7 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

I think it will happen regardless of you going there.

 

If John Williams conducts a concert, and no one is around to hear it, does it happen?

 

(It's World Philosophy Day today btw)

[Jurassic Shark 7108]

9 minutes ago, Biodome said:

If John Williams conducts a concert, and no one is around to hear it, does it happen?

 

Only the flubs.

[tmarps 197]

14 minutes ago, Biodome said:

 

If John Williams conducts a concert, and no one is around to hear it, does it happen?

 

(It's World Philosophy Day today btw)

And also International Men's Day, but that fits in more with the philosophy of the Vienna Phil.......

[eitam 160]

Wow, absolutely great news, let's hope it happens !!! 

 

45 minutes ago, Biodome said:

 

Oh boy, nothing is confirmed but just thinking about it is already stressing me out 

[Pawel P. 379]

I think the title of this thread should be corrected. If Maestro is hoping to perform in Berlin in October, it's more than a rumor  

[Henry Sítrónu 308]

he didn't say Germany. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_(disambiguation)

[Naïve Old Fart 5092]

Oh, great. So...he can go to Europe (twice!), but he can't be arsed to come to London?!

Screw him!

[Jurassic Shark 7108]

The LSO had their chance, but then they screwed up by not taking proper care of JW.

[Steve 194]

Just now, Naïve Old Fart said:

Oh, great. So...he can go to Europe (twice!), but he can't be arsed to come to London?!

Screw him!

It was about time he conducted a real orchestra

[Jurassic Shark 7108]

Their flubbery is top notch, only second to the Wieners.

[Steve 194]

5 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Their flubbery is top notch, only second to the Wieners.

1) Vienna Philharmonic 

2) Berlin Philharmonic 

(...)

LSO

[Once 336]

Wow, missing out on the Vienna concert still pains me, I NEED to get tickets to this concert.

[GerateWohl 642]

34 minutes ago, lemoncurd said:

he didn't say Germany. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_(disambiguation)

Don't scare me.

[Henry Sítrónu 308]

I'm not a pessimistic person, not at all. But given COVID19 and his age, I'm just, uh, careful. But of course, living in Berlin myself the thought of going to a JW-concert by bike would be fabulous! :-)

[GerateWohl 642]

1 minute ago, lemoncurd said:

I'm not a pessimistic person, not at all. But given COVID19 and his age, I'm just, uh, careful. But of course, living in Berlin myself the thought of going to a JW-concert by bike would be fabulous! :-)

Same for me.

[Steve 194]

Only 550km for me

[Quintus 5323]

Berlin's a great sprawling city and I'd love to go to this, but I'm afraid with JW concerts it's a case of once bitten twice shy for me. 

[Biodome 349]

Berliner Philharmoniker would be a great choice for John. So many legendary recordings have been made by them, and when they play romantics like Beethoven, they have no equals in the world. I'd be really curious to hear how John's music would sound on that orchestra.

 

I actually had plans to go to some random concert of theirs, just to hear them play live. I've heard that they do great New Year's Eve concerts, and since the tickets to Berlin are fairly affordable, I was considering the option to meet the coming New Year there. Of course, when the pandemic began, it all had to be postponed.

 

So they're already a great orchestra to have on the bucket list, even without John Williams. With the maestro conducting them, though, it would be a no brainer. Since John made it clear on the BBC that Berliner Philharmoniker is an orchestra he'd really want to conduct, I am fairly optimistic that we will see it happen pretty soon.

[Jurassic Shark 7108]

2 minutes ago, Biodome said:

Berliner Philharmoniker would be a great choice for John. So many legendary recordings have been made by them, and when they play romantics like Beethoven, they have no equals in the world. I'd be really curious to hear how John's music would sound on that orchestra.

 

I'd be curious to hear him conduct Beethoven!

[Fabulin 2734]

.

[crumbs 9480]

Oh god I hope this is true!! I still haven't lived down missing Vienna. I don't think even COVID would stop me from getting to Germany.

[Fabulin 2734]

1 minute ago, crumbs said:

Oh god I hope this is true!! I still haven't lived down missing Vienna. I don't think even COVID would stop me from getting to Germany.

The sequel to our Vienna JWFan meeting would gladly see you there  

[Thor 4305]

I've gone to Berlin every year for the last 5-6 years, to attend the Nordic Film Music Days during the Berlinale. Of course, nobody knows what happens this year, and it's February, anyway, so no chance to combine the two. But I'll gladly take another Berlin trip in October if this comes to pass, and I manage to secure a ticket. Perhaps a 'round trip' with this, WSA, Hollywood in Vienna etc., like I've done in the past.

[Steve 194]

Maybe Williams spoilered something that wasn't meant for public release as of now? No news to be found about that yet.

[toothless 792]

A few month ago, I was 100% sure I would never witness Williams conducting. Now I'm only 80% sure. And that made my day 

[GerateWohl 642]

Probably we will be able to see and hear Anne-Sophie play the violin concerto. 

[Biodome 349]

What if he's going to Berlin just to have some beer and pretzels with his buddy HZ?

[Jay 20736]

I'm surprised JW is still considering international travel after the London incident and then covid.  He'll be almost 90 in October 2021!

[TownerFan 3455]

The man knows no limits. I take this as a good sign from the universe that the pandemic will end before the end of next year

[Marian Schedenig 3724]

15 minutes ago, Jay said:

I'm surprised JW is still considering international travel after the London incident and then covid.  He'll be almost 90 in October 2021!

 

I was surprised he did Vienna after the LSO incident. Since the, nothing surprises me anymore.

 

In pretty much any comment on every European prize he was awarded during the past months, including yesterday's RPS medal, Williams has always regretted not being able to travel to Europe due to COVID, and each time I thought he's either using COVID as a convenient excuse for avoiding transatlantic travels like he has been doing for years, or he's actually serious and would be flying all over the world after the Wiener concert if not for COVID. Sounds like the second option might actually be true.

[mrbellamy 4608]

It’s just interesting that he’s decided to start doing this now in his late 80s when he hadn’t performed at all outside of the US since the 90s?

[rough cut 944]

As curious as this news is, consider me in!

[Ricard 1644]

Here's the 5-minute interview on YouTube (Berlin snippet at 4:48)

 

 

[Jurassic Shark 7108]

What a missed opportunity - the host should have asked about JW's reaction after seeing Schindler's List for the first time!

[Biodome 349]

10 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

What a missed opportunity - the host should have asked about JW's reaction after seeing Schindler's List for the first time!

 

Should have also asked about what the inspiration behind Rey's theme was.

[Jurassic Shark 7108]

7 minutes ago, Biodome said:

 

Should have also asked about what the inspiration behind Rey's theme was.

 

I believe they wanted a family friendly angle.

[MaxTheHouseelf 79]

I sent an email to the Berliner Philharmoniker asking for confirmation and they replied that everything concerning their next season 2020/21 will be announced on their yearly press conference, which will probably be next spring.

So I guess we'll have to wait until then to get any real confirmation from their side.

 

Here's their reply:

Quote

vielen Dank für Ihre Nachricht. Informationen zur kommenden Spielzeit geben wir grundsätzlich erst auf unserer Jahrespressekonferenz bekannt. Die Pressekonferenz für die Saison 2020/21 findet voraussichtlich nächstes Frühjahr statt.

Vielen Dank für Ihr Verständnis!

Mit besten Grüßen

Carmen Schaeffer

 

[Alex 1914]

Happy to be proved wrong, but there’s absolutely no way this will happen.

[tmarps 197]

1 hour ago, Alex said:

Happy to be proved wrong, but there’s absolutely no way this will happen.

Praise be to optimists!