John Williams conducts Filarmonica della Scala, Milan, Italy, 12 December 2022!

[Marian Schedenig 8,171]

1 hour ago, Martinland said:

Yes, I know, I've been there too today; no comparison to Vienna...

 

Speaking of which, the Musikverein website was hacked last weekend and has been offline since (they've got a static replacement site up now, but only since yesterday or so). They're still struggling to get the original website back up and running…

[Marvit 61]

TV Roundtable

[BB-8 3,461]

So all this medial hype but then no broadcast and recording of the actual concert?

 

I can't believe it!

[crumbs 14,295]

It's baffling, and a gigantic missed opportunity, to put it mildly. 

 

Especially after DG have monetised all the other concerts so spectacularly! 

[Sandor 796]

Perhaps John Williams himself preferred it this way.

[bollemanneke 3,337]

I'm hoping someone will quickly change their mind.

[JTGL 166]

4 hours ago, Martinland said:

Yes, I know, I've been there too today; no comparison to Vienna...

 

But I did meet one fellow forum member in front of La Scala box office by recognising him thanks to his former forum avatar from Vienna!  \o/  /me waves

 

Details at "Maurizio's" bar on Monday...

 

It was me and nice to talk with you. Hopefully you are able to get a ticket!🙏🏻

[TownerFan 4,983]

12 hours ago, bollemanneke said:

No idea, maybe TownerFan has ideas? It's beyond absurd this is not being recorded.

I am flattered, but you guys overestimate my powers 😅

 

It’s indeed a shame that nothing is officially planned in terms of recordings, but always remember that these agreements are very complex to figure out and deals can go in a vacuum even at the last moment. It’s not something that can be arranged in a few days.

[Martinland 357]

1 hour ago, JTGL said:

It was me and nice to talk with you. Hopefully you are able to get a ticket!  

Yes, it was nice indeed and great to meet you too out of the blue - believe it or not, I have shown your avatar to the woman in my life long ago, as it is radiating so much joy, but this late afternoon I was frantically trying to find it in the forum archives but I failed miserably and was hoping you would reply soon. \o/

 

See you later, my friend. o/

 

P.S.: By the way, we are nearly on your picture from the Vienna debut as we were seated down there next to the woman in the dark dress left of your right shoulder, if I am not mistaken...

[JohnnyD 1,220]

2 hours ago, Marvit said:

TV Roundtable

What the hell? I WANT TO SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW!! I WANT TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL RECORDING/RELEASE OF THIS HISTORIC CONCERT!

[Tom 4,632]

14 minutes ago, JohnnyD said:

What the hell? I WANT TO SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW!! I WANT TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL RECORDING/RELEASE OF THIS HISTORIC CONCERT!

That and the table isn't even round.  

[JohnnyD 1,220]

 

37 minutes ago, JohnnyD said:

What the hell? I WANT TO SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW!! I WANT TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL RECORDING/RELEASE OF THIS HISTORIC CONCERT!

I’m being fully serious, here. This deserves to have an official release just like Vienna and Berlin.

[bollemanneke 3,337]

You're forgetting that this is film music. Nothing is logical in our world. No recording they say.

[JTN 2,002]

As

much as I would love to have this concert on Blu-ray, there can be good reason why Deutsche Grammophon isn’t making a recording of it. The program of this concert is quite similar to the Berlin and Vienna concerts which are (still) available on multiple formats. And don’t forget that most people aren’t as die hard (it’s euphemism for fanatic) as us. DG might’ve thought that a concert so similar to the two previous ones wouldn’t sell (as well), because it would be a John Williams-DG overkill. And let’s be honest, it does make sense to a point. The other, more prosaic reason could be simple rights issues that couldn’t be figured out between DG and the Teatro alla Scala. Who knows…

With all that said I’m just as disappointed as anyone else on this forum that this concert isn’t going to be recorded, because this will undoubtedly be a very special event both for John Williams and his fans around the world, that deserves to be preserved for future generations of Film Music fans to enjoy. C’est la vie. 

[BB-8 3,461]

If I remember correctly, no one really knew whether Vienna II would be recorded until the moment when we observed mics with red lights and back-stage equipment and activities.

 

But even then, someone stated that the mics were just for amplifying the celeste and harp(s).

[Marian Schedenig 8,171]

21 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

If I remember correctly, no one really knew whether Vienna II would be recorded until the moment when we observed mics with red lights and back-stage equipment and activities.

 

And we still don't know if the rest is going to be released, or if there is going to be a full albu.

 

21 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

But even then, someone stated that the mics were just for amplifying the celeste and harp(s).

 

Nah. Williams knows how to write for solo instruments in acoustics settings, and the Musikverein wouldn't (and didn't) amplify instruments unless explicitly called for/absolutely necessary.

 

Regarding releases… there's multiple factors at work, I'm sure:

 

1) Seeing the relevance (yes, I'd buy all of these concerts, as many here would, but to someone in the business who isn't a die hard Williams fan, these are relatively similar concerts, and not every single one of them would necessarily seem in need of a release)

2) Economics. How many of us are there really? How many copies would they sell, if they released more or less the same stuff multiple times? Yes, the previous concerts became very good sellers, but it only now occurs to me that perhaps this is also a sign of how poorly classical/physical music sells these days to begin with? Perhaps it's just that the worldwide community of JW fans already accounts for a significant share of total sales. Not all of them would buy a release of every concert, I suppose.

3) Politics. Though I don't know if that applies in this case.

 

There are many live concerts I'd like recordings and releases of, and often they don't make them, for one or more of these reasons, or only make them years (or decades) later. The Vienna State Opera often records their performances, either for radio broadcasts, or (several times per season) for live video broadcasts to a big screen next to the opera house. I suppose all these recordings go into the archive, and the Orfeo label has been releasing live recordings that go back to the 50s - many of them only in recent years.

 

There was a brilliant performance of Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos conducted by Thielemann that I was very much hoping would be released, and that was filmed at least for a live broadcast. It took several years for a first release to show up though, and that was only as part of an expensive 15-or-something-disc anniversary box set of recordings spanning the house's entire recording history. It took a couple more years for a Blu-ray release to appear.

 

Another case: The re-staging of Wagner's entire Ring des Nibelungen from 2007 and 2008. The premiere seasons were conducted by Franz Welser-Möst and featured a (mostly) brilliant cast. Those were excellent performances, and I would gladly have them on CD, but only the first act of Die Walküre was ever released. Why only the first act (surely a rather unusual kind of release)? Probably because for the premiere performance (which this was taken from), Juha Uusitalo, who was cast as Wotan, was sick, and could only act silently while a last minute replacement performed the singing for him. He sang later performances (and very well), but maybe this was one reason why the 2nd and 3rd acts were not released (Wotan does not appear in the first one). Also, the Brünnhilde singer, if she was the same I heard a year later, wasn't really up to snuff. In fact, for Siegfried, she was on rather short notice replaced by Nina Stemme (not possible for Die Walküre, where Stemme was already cast in a different role, and appears in act 1). So maybe that was another reason. Whatever the background, of all four operas, only that one act was released. Instead of putting out the rest, the Wiener Philharmoniker (who play in these performances) recorded a full set of the Ring with Thielemann, replacing much of the main cast with singers he had worked with before. I think that was around the same time when Welser-Möst resigned as musical director of the State Opera, though I can't know if that's related to these circumstances. Whatever the case, we got a Thielemann box set with a "foreign" (to this production) cast instead of a full release of Welser-Möst's excellent live recordings.

 

And I'm sure that in the recording business, Wagner's cycle is much more closely scrutinised and discussed than a series of JW concerts, where a simple "why should be record this one as well, we've already got one" by some executive might be enough to settle the whole matter.

[BB-8 3,461]

And the fact that the golden vinyls of the Berlin Concert are not sold out and up for winter sale could indicate that the gold rush is over.

 

For the time being, I am grateful that JW made it to Vienna, Berlin, and Milan.

 

Still hoping for more releases though...

[jeremy314 0]

On 08/12/2022 at 3:47 PM, apples said:

Guys, sadly for me, my friend cannot attend the show… This means I have a spare ticket for Monday’s special evening.

 

Seat: I ORDINE PALCHI DX n. 6 Posto 1

 

You’ll be sitting next to yours truly 😉.

 

The ticket (PDF) has the name of my friend on it, however, as I gather from the comments here that doesn’t matter 🙂.

 

Anyone interested? Or know someone who might be interested? 🎟️  Please give me a shout!

100% will take this. I'm flying to Milan tomorrow and my friend is joining me but he missed out! Have sent a message in case the others fall through.

 

Or if anyone else has 1 ticket let me know!

Thanks!

[bollemanneke 3,337]

11 hours ago, JTW said:

As

much as I would love to have this concert on Blu-ray, there can be good reason why Deutsche Grammophon isn’t making a recording of it. The program of this concert is quite similar to the Berlin and Vienna concerts which are (still) available on multiple formats. And don’t forget that most people aren’t as die hard (it’s euphemism for fanatic) as us. DG might’ve thought that a concert so similar to the two previous ones wouldn’t sell (as well), because it would be a John Williams-DG overkill. And let’s be honest, it does make sense to a point. The other, more prosaic reason could be simple rights issues that couldn’t be figured out between DG and the Teatro alla Scala. Who knows…

With all that said I’m just as disappointed as anyone else on this forum that this concert isn’t going to be recorded, because this will undoubtedly be a very special event both for John Williams and his fans around the world, that deserves to be preserved for future generations of Film Music fans to enjoy. C’est la vie. 

I would agree with you had we not been talking about the label that funded 3 Karajan Beethoven cycles and 3 half Tchaikovsky cycles while we only needed one.

[GlastoEls 556]

Safe travels to everyone en route to Milan!

 

Just sat on my seat in the plane - Home Alone 2 (expanded!) playing. 
 

Vienna, Berlin, Milan - we are so so lucky! 

[Biodome 714]

1 hour ago, GlastoEls said:

Home Alone 2 (expanded!) playing

I'd love for Home Alone to make an appearance in the concert. It would be so appropriate for the Christmas setting. Alas, it doesn't look likely that the wish is going to be fulfilled.

 

In any case, have a pleasant flight, and I'll see you in Milan!

[JTN 2,002]

5 hours ago, bollemanneke said:

I would agree with you had we not been talking about the label that funded 3 Karajan Beethoven cycles and 3 half Tchaikovsky cycles while we only needed one.

You’re talking about Beethoven and Tchaikovsky and Classical Music that have been around for centuries. And who gets to decide how many of those cycles are needed…?

I would LOVE to have the Milan concert recorded and released on every format, but I know this is contemporary Film Music that DG has released twice already with similar programs and even John Williams has his limits, in terms of how many of his concerts with somewhat similar programs people will purchase. Again, I’m among those who would definitely purchase it both on Blu-ray and on CD. But I’m in the minority of DG’s general audience consisting mainly of classical music listeners.

[bollemanneke 3,337]

Fair enough, but who gets to decide how many Far and Away versions conducted by JW we need?

[GlastoEls 556]

26 minutes ago, Biodome said:

I'd love for Home Alone to make an appearance in the concert. It would be so appropriate for the Christmas setting. Alas, it doesn't look likely that the wish is going to be fulfilled.

 

In any case, have a pleasant flight, and I'll see you in Milan!

I couldn’t agree more on Home Alone, Biodome, and see you soon! 

[AOP 259]

Just about to board here in Tokyo! Will be a looong flight, but more than enough time to reacquaint myself with my favorite JW themes!

 

Onwards!!

 

 

 

[Martinland 357]

Just spotted two IMMENSELY large RAI broadcasting trucks near La Scala -(that were *not* there yesterday) just so that you know...

[Rikkardo 42]

It seems impossible they wouldnt make any recording. They basically might not want to announce it yet. The event is too historic for not being at least recorded on something.

[crumbs 14,295]

On the train from Florence to Milan and, honestly, it still doesn't feel real!

 

Just knowing I'll be in the same city as the Maestro is quite a surreal emotion, on top of all the excitement of experiencing this beautiful country for the first time. 

 

It definitely hasn't sunk in yet...

[JohnnyD 1,220]

That’s amazing. Just be sure not to journey afterwards from Milan to Minsk. 

[bollemanneke 3,337]

46 minutes ago, Martinland said:

Just spotted two IMMENSELY large RAI broadcasting trucks near La Scala -(that were *not* there yesterday) just so that you know...

Oh, please, God. I don't really see wgy not, though, how much preparation in advance would there have to be though? It's not that complex to record.

[Rikkardo 42]

Maybe those who are going to tomorrow's opening reharsal will give us an idea.

[Marian Schedenig 8,171]

4 hours ago, bollemanneke said:

I would agree with you had we not been talking about the label that funded 3 Karajan Beethoven cycles and 3 half Tchaikovsky cycles while we only needed one.

 

But don't you say you prefer Karajan's 70s cycle? I still haven't heard that, but I love his 60s version, so that's probably already two we "need". The third one, like so many other remakes, was of course made because of the then brand new digital recording technology.

[bollemanneke 3,337]

Oh, I absolutely prefer the second cycle. Apart from the 9th, the third one is a complete waste of recording time. I just gave that example because I thought it would be a bit rich of DG to not release something just because it was repetitive. I mean, we can safely say that JW sells, right?

[Marvit 61]

Best time ever for John in Milan 

[JTN 2,002]

3 hours ago, bollemanneke said:

Fair enough, but who gets to decide how many Far and Away versions conducted by JW we need?

Apparently Deutsche Grammophon.

[crumbs 14,295]

Any recommendations on a good wine bar near Milano Centrale for a few evening drinks?

 

Just got to my hotel, still getting used to the early sunsets! 

 

Also, the lady at reception told me you can get a tourist metro card for 12€ which lasts 3 days and you can ride anywhere on the metro. Might be handy for anyone else who is staying closer to Centrale but doesn't want to walk everywhere (especially to Teatro!) 

[GlastoEls 556]

Williams excitement now suddenly interrupted by England v France World Cup nerves…

[crumbs 14,295]

Well here's to JW on his safe arrival in Milan (and to mine! )

 

 

Safe travels to everyone heading their way to Milan!

[BB-8 3,461]

I'll soon be hopping on the night train down south from Germany: the old-fashioned, romantic (and climate-friendly) way.

 

 

[Jay 37,280]

We're in Milan now too! 

[BB-8 3,461]

Watch here...

 

https://www.rainews.it/tgr/lombardia/video/2022/12/da-hollywood-alla-scala-bc80ec26-c719-4f6a-b451-1e636ac2fca0.html

[Marian Schedenig 8,171]

2 hours ago, bollemanneke said:

Oh, I absolutely prefer the second cycle. Apart from the 9th, the third one is a complete waste of recording time. I just gave that example because I thought it would be a bit rich of DG to not release something just because it was repetitive.

 

It's still successive decades (with advances in technology) vs successive years.

 

2 hours ago, bollemanneke said:

I mean, we can safely say that JW sells, right?

 

Can we? I don't know how many more copies three different JW concert releases would sell in total than one single release.

[Jay 37,280]

22 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

Watch here...

 

https://www.rainews.it/tgr/lombardia/video/2022/12/da-hollywood-alla-scala-bc80ec26-c719-4f6a-b451-1e636ac2fca0.html

 

Did he use the "a person you can't say no to" line about Spielberg in that? 

[crumbs 14,295]

41 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

I'll soon be hopping on the night train down south from Germany: the old-fashioned, romantic (and climate-friendly) way.

 

 

 

I wonder how many cues JW has written for scenes involving trains. A lot, I think! 

[Pawel P. 738]

2 minutes ago, Jay said:

 

Did he use the "a person you can't say no to" line about Spielberg in that? 

 

Yep. Same words he explained his cooperation with Mutter. "One thing he's not is a man you can say 'no' to".  

 

That means The Fabelmans may not be his last Spielberg film!

[crumbs 14,295]

4 minutes ago, Jay said:

 

Did he use the "a person you can't say no to" line about Spielberg in that? 

 

I think I can hear "Spielberg" in there. Would be nice if they released a version without the Italian translation over the top! 

[bollemanneke 3,337]

I never got why some countries don't seem to be capable of just using subtitles.

[Pawel P. 738]

4 hours ago, Martinland said:

Just spotted two IMMENSELY large RAI broadcasting trucks near La Scala -(that were *not* there yesterday) just so that you know...

 

Please report tomorrow if they are still there

[barry7 4]

4 hours ago, Martinland said:

Just spotted two IMMENSELY large RAI broadcasting trucks near La Scala -(that were *not* there yesterday) just so that you know...

👀

[Martinland 357]

...and I, on the other hand, just met (!) a friendly, white-haired member of the Filarmonica string section [EDIT: just watched the RAI news clip: he plays third stand of the first violins] by pure luck (!!) while we were waiting for the (belated!) old tram line Numero Uno near La Scala, as he was entering an eatery after today's rehearsal (I "recognised" him by his violin case) ... had a nice little chat with him (!!!) and hope to see him again tomorrow.

 

Then, after riding that old tram, all hell break loose on the streets because of ... Morocco winning a game or something. /o\

 

Plus the Christmas vibes on top of all that; it all feels pretty ... unreal.