An Evening of John Williams (2022-02-12, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sidney Myer Free Concert)

[Quppa 424]

PSA for anyone in the Melbourne vicinity that one of the annual Sidney Myer Free Concerts next February will celebrate John Williams' 90th birthday (a few days late). Contingent on the city ever leaving lockdown.

 

https://www.mso.com.au/performance/2022-sidney-myer-free-concerts#an-evening-of-john-williams

 

An Evening of John Williams
Saturday 12 February / 7.30pm
Jessica Gethin conductor
Celebrate John Williams’ 90th birthday with his greatest hits from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park and more.

Program

All works by John Williams
Star Wars Suite: Main Title
Saving Private Ryan: Hymn to the Fallen
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Suite: Hedwig's Theme
The Witches of Eastwick: Devil's Dance
Memoirs of a Geisha: Suite for Cello and Orchestra, The Chairman's Waltz
E.T.: Adventures on Earth
The Olympic Spirit
Schindler's List: Theme
Hook: Flight to Neverland
Star Wars Suite: Yoda's Theme
Star Wars Suite: Imperial March
Jurassic Park: Theme

[Jay 45,151]

Cool!

[crumbs 15,888]

I nearly had a heart attack because I read the title as 'With John Williams'

 

Why you never visit Australia, Jay-Dubs?

 

Still, live orchestral music is fantastic news given what Melbourne has endured over the last 18 months. We desperately need to inject some life back into the city. Was thinking just yesterday that outside performances should be feasible come summer (the density quotas make indoor performances problematic).

 

But I'll definitely be attending this. I saw the MSO perform The Force Awakens and they were sensational!

[Luke Skywalker 2,321]

Their performance on jurassic park operation genesis is sublime. Dinosaur fly-by sounds exactly like the film version. I  know it is a re-recording because the composer told me so….

[crumbs 15,888]

Yeah that's a fun soundtrack! They performed very well when it came to the JW music. 

 

Still kicking myself for not seeing more of their LTP concerts before COVID happened. Could be waiting a while for those to resume

[zoltan_902 166]

Lucky you guys. Hopefully we can expect similar birthday gestures from the Sydney Symphony too.

[Quppa 424]

The full program has been published here - good to see The Olympic Spirit, The Witches of Eastwick and Memoirs of a Geisha in addition to the usual fare.

[Tom 6,395]

35 minutes ago, Quppa said:

The full program has been published here - good to see The Olympic Spirit, The Witches of Eastwick and Memoirs of a Geisha in addition to the usual fare.

That is a really nice program.  

[crumbs 15,888]

Wow! They did an amazing job curating highlights for that program. Fantastic selections!

 

Very excited to see this

[Quppa 424]

Bumping this since it's happening tomorrow.

[crumbs 15,888]

Looks like this will be broadcast live, or at the very least, available on demand afterwards! Great news for anyone who can't attend or lives overseas. It starts at 7.30pm tonight, Australian EST, for anyone who wants to listen.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/classic/programs/evenings/mso-an-evening-with-john-williams/13733832

 

The MSO is a world-class orchestra. I saw them perform TFA a few years back and they did a magnificent job.

 

I love that this set list includes some more obscure pieces in addition to the classics. Memoirs of a Geisha should be fantastic!

 

Here's the final program:

• Deborah Cheetham: Long time living here
• John Williams: Star Wars Suite: Main Title
• John Williams: Saving Private Ryan: Hymn to the Fallen
• John Williams: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Suite: Hedwig’s Theme
• John Williams: The Witches of Eastwick: Devil’s Dance
• John Williams: Memoirs of a Giesha: Suite for Cello and Orchestra: The Chairman’s Waltz
• John Williams: E. T.: Adventures on Earth
• John Williams: The Olympic Spirit
• John Williams: Schindler’s List: Theme
• John Williams: Hook: Flight to Neverland
• John Williams: Star Wars Suite: Yoda’s Theme
• John Williams: Star Wars Suite: Imperial March
• John Williams: Jurassic Park: Theme
• John Williams: Raiders of the Lost Ark: March
• John Williams: Happy Birthday Variations

[Quppa 424]

Great turnout and lovely weather.

20220212_192224.heic 20220212_192314.heic

[Naïve Old Fart 12,666]

On 28/09/2021 at 7:05 AM, Quppa said:

Star Wars Suite: Main Title

Saving Private Ryan: Hymn to the Fallen
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Suite: Hedwig's Theme
The Witches of Eastwick: The Dance Of The Witches
Memoirs of a Geisha: Suite for Cello and Orchestra, The Chairman's Waltz
E.T.: Adventures on Earth
The Olympic Spirit
Schindler's List: Theme
Hook: Flight to Neverland
Star Wars Suite: Yoda's Theme
Star Wars Suite: Imperial March
Jurassic Park: Theme

It's nice, don't get me wrong, but it's a standard Greatest Hits package.

Still, any live JW is better than no live JW.

[KittBash 360]

Wow that took a little while for me to be able to grab that concert... well now to give it a listen! 

[Miguel Andrade 1,697]

Concert can be heard here: https://www.abc.net.au/classic/programs/evenings/mso-an-evening-with-john-williams/13733832