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

[TownerFan 4,980]

  

5 minutes ago, crumbs said:

Don't give up hope @TownerFan! Still plenty of time for people to cancel tickets and seats to become available again (especially with covid running amok). 

 

I am an optimist by design I am confident something good will happen!

[Disco Stu 15,483]

1 minute ago, TownerFan said:

  

 

I am an optimist by design I am confident something good will happen!

 

Maurizio, it's clearly time to lean into every connection you've made over these past years of doing the podcast!  There's no shame in it!  

[Jay 35,281]

I am confident you'll find a way to attend the show Maurizio

 

As for me, count me amongst the fools who planned our only major vacation since 2019 around this concert, already having booked accommodations in four different cities in Italy, only to not have a ticket to the show

[Disco Stu 15,483]

3 minutes ago, Jay said:

I am confident you'll find a way to attend the show Maurizio

 

As for me, count me amongst the fools who planned our only major vacation since 2019 around this concert, already having booked accommodations in four different cities in Italy, only to not have a ticket to the show

 

 

 

I think getting a vacation in northern Italy either way ain't a half-bad deal!

 

[TownerFan 4,980]

Thank you all for the nice words.

 

It's more than likely there will be return tickets available closer to the date, plus people canceling their plans and selling tickets, etc. as you all have noted. It always happens. I was bitten by this turn of the events on the spot since I was in front of my computer since 9am, but then I realized it wasn't any different than other situations. It's a single night gig and the theater capacity is under 2,000 seats. It was expected to sell out in minutes.

 

And Jay, we'll make your stay in our city very pleasant, that's for sure!

[BB-8 2,964]

Just found this seat-specific viewing tool of the location:

Seat Preview: TEATRO ALLA SCALA (sitzplatzvorschau.de)

 

 

27 minutes ago, TownerFan said:

  

 

I am an optimist by design I am confident something good will happen!

[Hodel33 4]

23 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

Just found this seat-specific viewing tool of the location:

Seat Preview: TEATRO ALLA SCALA (sitzplatzvorschau.de)

 

 

 

Haha JP baby  Here's hoping John will do a special JP encore 

[BB-8 2,964]

6 minutes ago, Hodel33 said:

 

Haha JP baby  Here's hoping John will do a special JP encore 

Well, never give up hope, but I think Yoda's Theme and Imperial March are more likely.

[Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,339]

My top three would be Benny's Theme, The Fabelmans and The Imperial March

[JAn 0]

For decades I was hoping I could see John Williams live and was hoping this was it. But because of that ticketing system, which kicked me out three times, I was unble to buy any ticket. So all of you lucky enough to go there, I am exited for you and please enjoy it for me as well.

[GlastoEls 510]

1 minute ago, JAn said:

For decades I was hoping I could see John Williams live and was hoping this was it. But because of that ticketing system, which kicked me out three times, I was unble to buy any ticket. So all of you lucky enough to go there, I am exited for you and please enjoy it for me as well.

 

Don't give up.  

 

For both Vienna and Berlin there were late tickets, returns, the odd sale on JWFan, etc.

[essel 15]

4 hours ago, Atlantis said:

New here, I had tickets for the concert in London but the Master could not come.

 

I hope I can finally see him this time.

 

Same for me, and in the meantime I missed out on the Berlin concert because I accidentally slept in and my SO didn't wake me up…

 

My mother is also extremely thrilled to go — and discover Milan in the process.

[m4tt 5]

To be honest I was really suprised when I saw that so many people from jwfan didn't get their tickets... I've managed to purchase two tickets without any problem - I even picked the seats.

 

Never saw something like this in the past - I literally saw tens seats disappearing from the sitting plan every second.

[Hodel33 4]

1 minute ago, m4tt said:

To be honest I was really suprised when I saw that so many people from jwfan didn't get their tickets... I've managed to purchase two tickets without any problem - I even picked the seats.

 

Never saw something like this in the past - I literally saw tens seats disappearing from the sitting plan every second.

 

Mm Ive never seen anything like it either.. was insane 

[m4tt 5]

4 hours ago, Atlantis said:

New here, I had tickets for the concert in London but the Master could not come.

 

I hope I can finally see him this time.

 

A little disappointed not to have vip packs for this occasion

 

Hang on a second - was there any VIP tickets?

[GlastoEls 510]

6 minutes ago, m4tt said:

 

Hang on a second - was there any VIP tickets?

 

No.

[Biodome 714]

38 minutes ago, m4tt said:

Hang on a second - was there any VIP tickets?

No VIP tickets, but there was a presale for Filarmonica della Scala subscribers and music academia, which is why some seats were unavailable at the beginning of the sale.

[MSM 116]

23 minutes ago, Biodome said:

No VIP tickets, but there was a presale for Filarmonica della Scala subscribers and music academia, which is why some seats were unavailable at the beginning of the sale.

Which is kind of peculiar, as the box office told me on the phone several weeks ago this concert wouldn’t be part of any subscription.

[BB-8 2,964]

13 hours ago, May the Force be with You said:

My top three would be Benny's Theme, The Fabelmans and The Imperial March

And TROS ...

[cisco 4]

Yesterday I was one of the lucky one, who got 2 tickets for Milan. First timer at JW concert and I have a few question, you can might answer.

 

Who was in Berlin or Vienna, is there usually any "souvenir" you can buy at the venue? Poster, program, cd, dvd, bd, etc? On other concerts I know that usually there is a brand shop, you can get something.

 

The second question is that, is there any chance like 0,001% to get a signiture from the Maestro?

 

Thanks for the answers! See you at Milan! :)

 

 

[TownerFan 4,980]

39 minutes ago, cisco said:

Yesterday I was one of the lucky one, who got 2 tickets for Milan. First timer at JW concert and I have a few question, you can might answer.

 

Who was in Berlin or Vienna, is there usually any "souvenir" you can buy at the venue? Poster, program, cd, dvd, bd, etc? On other concerts I know that usually there is a brand shop, you can get something.

 

The second question is that, is there any chance like 0,001% to get a signiture from the Maestro?

 

Thanks for the answers! See you at Milan!

 

 

 

There is a branded shop beside the theatre (La Scala Shop) that carries books, CDs, DVDs, souvenirs, etc. But you won't find anything JW or film music related, only classical music stuff. If you have time to spare, I heartily suggest to make a stop at La Scala Museum (right beside the theatre as well), it's well worth a visit and they also have nice guided tours.

 

There is 0% chance of getting autographs from JW, he doesn't do public signings or stuff like that.

[BB-8 2,964]

30 minutes ago, cisco said:

Yesterday I was one of the lucky one, who got 2 tickets for Milan. First timer at JW concert and I have a few question, you can might answer.

 

Who was in Berlin or Vienna, is there usually any "souvenir" you can buy at the venue? Poster, program, cd, dvd, bd, etc? On other concerts I know that usually there is a brand shop, you can get something.

 

The second question is that, is there any chance like 0,001% to get a signiture from the Maestro?

 

Thanks for the answers! See you at Milan! :)

 

 

Congrats!

 

The Scala does seem to have a souvenir shop - at least online.

 

The best souvenir of course would be a recording of the concert...but I don't know whether that is planned for this one-off concert.

 

Re JW signatures I would say NO, very unlikely if not impossible. Maybe musicians of the orchestra or some individuals from the inner management/sponsoring circle may have a chance to approach him backstage. Looking back at Vienna and Berlin JW was escorted by body guards to and from the venue.

 

So please don't bank on any direct contact. We fans just need to respect that and be happy that he's still around and remarkably active at such old age.

 

[cisco 4]

Thanks for the quick answers!

 

Of course I know there is basically no chance to have a signiture from the Maestro, but I need to ask it anyway

[GerateWohl 3,701]

8 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

Congrats!

 

The Scala does seem to have a souvenir shop - at least online.

 

The best souvenir of course would be a recording of the concert...but I don't know whether that is planned for this one-off concert.

 

Re JW signatures I would say NO, very unlikely if not impossible. Maybe musicians of the orchestra or some individuals from the inner management/sponsoring circle may have a chance to approach him backstage. Looking back at Vienna and Berlin JW was escorted by body guards to and from the venue.

 

So please don't bank on any direct contact. We fans just need to respect that and be happy that he's still around and remarkably active at such old age.

 

If you get hold of John Williams at the stage exit, you might be able to tear off one sleeve from his jacket.

 

5 minutes ago, cisco said:

Thanks for the quick answers!

 

Of course I know there is basically no chance to have a signiture from the Maestro, but I need to ask it anyway

Remembering the Berlin concert, that one was sold out very quickly as well, but a week or two before the concert there were a lot of offers, even from users here, who couldn't make it to the concert or had a ticket left over because their friends couldn't come.

So don't give up! In case you are that flexible and could go there on such short notice.

[BB-8 2,964]

2 minutes ago, cisco said:

Thanks for the quick answers!

 

Of course I know there is basically no chance to have a signiture from the Maestro, but I need to ask it anyway

OK, but please don't even try!

 

I witnessed two fan ambushes, one in Berlin and one in Vienna.

 

The guy in Berlin tried approaching JW when he was just leaving the stage - he was snatched by security and escorted out of the concert hall missing part of the concert...no one really wants to share these kind of experiences.

 

In Vienna, a rather bold person in front of the hotel was also bullied off by security.

 

Real fans don't want to see these kind of things happen.

[carux79 2]

Maybe another date….hope so…

It’s unreal I could see him in hollywood…Vienna..Berlin and not in Milan…2/30 hrs train from Rome…

😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

[cisco 4]

37 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

OK, but please don't even try!

 

I witnessed two fan ambushes, one in Berlin and one in Vienna.

 

The guy in Berlin tried approaching JW when he was just leaving the stage - he was snatched by security and escorted out of the concert hall missing part of the concert...no one really wants to share these kind of experiences.

 

In Vienna, a rather bold person in front of the hotel was also bullied off by security.

 

Real fans don't want to see these kind of things happen.

I won't! Not my style...

[ConorPower 132]

I was lucky enough to get a ticket at the Berlin box office an hour before one of the concerts  — with a pretty great seat too. So I'd recommend giving that a go if you'll be in Milan but weren't fortunate enough to get a ticket yesterday. 

[GlastoEls 510]

33 minutes ago, carux79 said:

Maybe another date….hope so…

It’s unreal I could see him in hollywood…Vienna..Berlin and not in Milan…2/30 hrs train from Rome…

😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

Have had the incredible privilege of seeing him six times in recent years - but I still regret the London Royal Albert Hall cancellation in 2018.  Less than five miles from my front door! 🥹

[BB-8 2,964]

Does anyone know who the cover conductor is for Milano?

[Charlierre 11]

Hi There,

 

New in here.

 

I share the pain with those of you who didn't manage to get a ticket for the Milano concert. I live just 40 min away from Milan and was really hoping to see the Maestro for the first time in my life.

 

Me and my wife were both trying to get them (as this was supposed to be an anniversary present) but as many of you have already stated, booking system was rubbish; kicked us both us twice when we were about to pay.

 

If anyone knows of any tickets resell for the Milano concert, please do let me know!

 

To those of you who managed to get tickets, enjoy what probably will be an unforgettable experience!

[GerateWohl 3,701]

If I lived there nearby, I would have gone for the subscription tickets in advance.

Did the same in Berlin and didn't regret it. Since then I am going there regularly.

[Pawel P. 727]

40 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

Does anyone know who the cover conductor is for Milano?

 

I might be wrong, but I don't think a cover conductor is planned as it was in London.

 

The concert at the Royal Albert Hall was called 'An Evening with John Williams in Concert', so when the Maestro fell ill after arriving in London it could have been easily renamed 'A Celebration of John Williams in Concert' - the title 'An Evening with John Williams In Concert' didn't determine whether it was "An Evening with the Artist's Music" or "An Evening with the Artist", even if everyone was buying tickets for Williams who would personally conduct.

 

In the case of Milan, the concert has no title, it only says 'John Williams, CONDUCTOR'. Therefore, in my opinion, replacing the conductor is not an option.

[BB-8 2,964]

16 minutes ago, GerateWohl said:

If I lived there nearby, I would have gone for the subscription tickets in advance.

Did the same in Berlin and didn't regret it. Since then I am going there regularly.

But was JW in Milano ever part of a subscription that could be booked online?

 

11 minutes ago, Pawel P. said:

 

I might be wrong, but I don't think a cover conductor is planned as it was in London.

 

The concert at the Royal Albert Hall was called 'An Evening with John Williams in Concert', so when the Maestro fell ill after arriving in London it could have been easily renamed 'A Celebration of John Williams in Concert' - the title 'An Evening with John Williams In Concert' didn't determine whether it was "An Evening with the Artist's Music" or "An Evening with the Artist", even if everyone was buying tickets for Williams who would personally conduct.

 

In the case of Milan, the concert has no title, it only says 'John Williams, CONDUCTOR'. Therefore, in my opinion, replacing the conductor is not an option.

But for Berlin [edit: and for Vienna 2022] there was a cover conductor [Caleb Young, Conductor (calebwyoung.com] who took on some of the rehearsals before JW was flown in - more like an assistant conductor I suppose, suggesting things like "bells up" and that wonderous ritardando in HP (Berlin) - maybe.

[m4tt 5]

7 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

But was JW in Milano ever part of a subscription that could be booked online?

 

By the looks of it yes. When I checked the setting plan before 14:00 there were some seats already booked.

[carux79 2]

maybe those seats were for some hosts or vip…

sure there was not subscription or reservation for that tickets

[m4tt 5]

On Filarmonica della Scala facebook page they said "Online sales, was reserved only for supporters of the Filarmonica della Scala for the 2022 season and the professors members of the Filarmonica della Scala."

 

So I guess if you are paying some yearly subscription you are becoming "supporter of the Filarmonica della Scala" which allows you to do early booking.

[BB-8 2,964]

2 minutes ago, m4tt said:

 

By the looks of it yes. When I checked the setting plan before 14:00 there were some seats already booked.

I should have taken screen shots, because that plan was changing slightly before 14:00 - as if someone was inputting the subscribed seats and some extra VIP reservations. But only a handful were added. I was like "ah, see these are the VIP reservations for Berlusconi and Co...".

[m4tt 5]

That's what they said in italian I've just translated it to english.

 

"La prelazione sull'acquisto, che poteva essere esercitata prima dell’apertura vendite online, era riservata solo ai sostenitori della Filarmonica della Scala per la stagione 2022 e ai professori soci della Filarmonica della Scala."

[Pawel P. 727]

23 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

But for Berlin [edit: and for Vienna 2022] there was a cover conductor [Caleb Young, Conductor (calebwyoung.com] who took on some of the rehearsals before JW was flown in - more like an assistant conductor I suppose, suggesting things like "bells up" and that wonderous ritardando in HP (Berlin) - maybe.

 

Oh, now I understand. I didn't know about it. Probably the same will happen in Milan, but I don't think that the potential cover conductor tasks go beyond what you write about.

[Amer 1,978]

18 hours ago, TownerFan said:

Thank you all for the nice words.

 

It's more than likely there will be return tickets available closer to the date, plus people canceling their plans and selling tickets, etc. as you all have noted. It always happens. I was bitten by this turn of the events on the spot since I was in front of my computer since 9am, but then I realized it wasn't any different than other situations. It's a single night gig and the theater capacity is under 2,000 seats. It was expected to sell out in minutes.

 

And Jay, we'll make your stay in our city very pleasant, that's for sure!

Congrats Maurizio , I read the GOOD NEWS !!!So thrilled for you. I hope other people also get lucky!.

 

 

[Martinland 316]

2 hours ago, ConorPower said:

I was lucky enough to get a ticket at the Berlin box office an hour before one of the concerts  — with a pretty great seat too. So I'd recommend giving that a go if you'll be in Milan but weren't fortunate enough to get a ticket yesterday. 

K.

 

I will be there anyhow (total technical disaster yesterday - not on my part *sigh*) by train, after visiting a dear old friend in Torino, who actually made me aware of John Williams' albums more than 30 years ago! 

 

P.S.: I wanted to gift him with at least a ticket for him, because - despite being a longer Williams afficionado than me - he never experienced the maestro in person...

 

[carux79 2]

In my opinion you can not sell tickets for concerts like this on the same websites you sell tickets for rock stadium concerts with thousands of people….for Berlin and Wein classic websites of Concert Halls worked great and easily

[Biodome 714]

6 minutes ago, carux79 said:

In my opinion you can not sell tickets for concerts like this on the same websites you sell tickets for rock stadium concerts with thousands of people….for Berlin and Wein classic websites of Concert Halls worked great and easily

I think the queue was simply too short, and people were let in to ticket selection in far too great quantities, to the point where everything was sold out in a couple of minutes.

 

If they had rather stretched the queue, made people wait, and ensured that no more, than, say, 10-20 people were choosing seats at the same time, the whole process would've been a much better experience. 

[Amer 1,978]

I hope the concert gets recorded and taped. Plus do we get a live stream like it happened in Berlin which was awesome.

 

I'm not aware of this concert hall's accoustics or the orchestra itself..

 

It would be yet another gift that we get to have this concert recorded by DG label. With their 3 albums we are are so fortunate.

[crumbs 13,888]

45 minutes ago, Amer said:

It would be yet another gift that we get to have this concert recorded by DG label. With their 3 albums we are are so fortunate.

 

For some reason it does feel a bit incomplete after Berlin and Vienna. Milan would complete the trilogy of European concerts.

 

I'd like to think DG are all over it.

[cisco 4]

12 minutes ago, crumbs said:

 

For some reason it does feel a bit incomplete after Berlin and Vienna. Milan would complete the trilogy of European concerts.

 

I'd like to think DG are all over it.

Greatest live concert quality in audio. 2.0 but also Atmos audio is one of the finest. A lot of concert has really low quality audio, with very small dynamic and so on.

 

The other great atmos track is Hans Zimmer - Live in Prague.

[Biodome 714]

6 minutes ago, crumbs said:

For some reason it does feel a bit incomplete after Berlin and Vienna. Milan would complete the trilogy of European concerts.

I hope Milan isn't what completes or concludes John Williams' European appearances. I know he might be too old for these transatlantic flights, but I still want him to do a concert with London Symphony Orchestra, and, perhaps, one or two other European orchestras, like Royal Concertgebouw.

[BB-8 2,964]

1 hour ago, carux79 said:

In my opinion you can not sell tickets for concerts like this on the same websites you sell tickets for rock stadium concerts with thousands of people….for Berlin and Wein classic websites of Concert Halls worked great and easily

Vienna: 2044 seats*2 concerts*2 seasons -> 8176 tickets for sale plus advantage for members

Berlin: 2250 seats*3 concerts -> 6750 tickets for sale plus advantage for subscribers

Milan: 2030 seats, approx. 430 preassigned -> approx. 1600 tickets for sale

 

[Steve 539]

1 hour ago, Biodome said:

I hope Milan isn't what completes or concludes John Williams' European appearances. I know he might be too old for these transatlantic flights, but I still want him to do a concert with London Symphony Orchestra, and, perhaps, one or two other European orchestras, like Royal Concertgebouw.

Concertgebouw, LSO or Gewandhaus are my hopes for the future. It is really a bit strange that he flies to europe for only one concert.