John Williams' Piano Concerto for Emmanuel Ax - Premieres Saturday, July 26, 2025

[Marian Schedenig 11,514]

3 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said:

4 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Tell her you'll have to visit great grandpa Johnny.

And what would I tell her parents?

 

You have to visit grandpa Johnny…

[Mr. Hooper 8,367]

I don't think the 'Uncle Bob' trick's going to work, guys. 
 

 

I'm sorry to neglect dear 'Grandpa Johnny,' but take solace in knowing that many other members of his extended family will be there.

[Marian Schedenig 11,514]

1 hour ago, Mr. Hooper said:

I don't think the 'Uncle Bob' trick's going to work, guys. 

 

Not if you're using the wrong name, duh!

[Mr. Hooper 8,367]

4 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

 

Not if you're using the wrong name, duh!

[BB-8 6,013]

Invite the niece to Tanglewood for her birthday.

[Mr. Hooper 8,367]

1 hour ago, BB-8 said:

Invite the niece to Tanglewood for her birthday.

 

[Rachael Foley 9,808]

Nice rhyme-ish. (Birthday/Goulet)

[BB-8 6,013]

Quote from today's "Behind the Moon" article:

 

"John won’t be conducting, but if all goes according to plan he will be in the audience, witnessing this very special concert work come to life in the hands of pianist Emanuel Ax and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

 

For those who can’t be there on Saturday, WAMC will broadcast the concert live, and the concerto is also going to be recorded for a future release."

 

Live From Tanglewood | WAMC

 

So @Mr. Hooper and his niece can sit back, relax and tune into the radio... ;-)

 

Finale. Presto!

[Pawel P. 909]

https://www.instagram.com/stories/direct/3682928229022257751_1093421071

 

It looks like these are three movements of the Concerto – I don't really see them being named after jazz legends, as was previously stated.

 

Anyway, I'm planning to stay up all night and listen to the broadcast.

 

[Tom 6,546]

https://www.berkshiremag.com/post/manny-john

 

While early reports and rumors suggested the piece was inspired by the musicality of three iconic American jazz pianists—Art Tatum, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson—Ax is quick to clarify. "It doesn't sound exactly like them," he says. "The second movement has a lot of Bill Evans in it—that dreamy thing he was so great at. The first is quite hard, and the third movement is very fast, like Oscar Peterson, lots of notes to practice." 

 

Despite Williams' playful remark in a 2024 interview that composing the piece for Ax took "chutzpah" on his part, Ax turns the compliment back toward the composer himself. "He's a very great man and a great composer," he says. "I'm so glad I wrote to him. It's a privilege." The concerto itself is a far cry from Williams' best-known film scores. "It's quite thorny, harmonically," said Ax. "It's not like the music for the movies. It's very strong, very compelling concert music." 

[Mr. Hooper 8,367]

1 hour ago, Tom said:

While early reports and rumors suggested the piece was inspired by the musicality of three iconic American jazz pianists—Art Tatum, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson—Ax is quick to clarify. "It doesn't sound exactly like them," he says. "The second movement has a lot of Bill Evans in it—that dreamy thing he was so great at. The first is quite hard, and the third movement is very fast, like Oscar Peterson, lots of notes to practice."

 

And Mr. Hooper is quick to clarify that Oscar Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist.

[Muad'Dib 2,026]

1 hour ago, Mr. Hooper said:

 

And Mr. Hooper is quick to clarify that Oscar Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist.

 

Technically American since we're all in the same continent

 

(South American here hehe)

[Jesse 270]

2 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said:

And Mr. Hooper is quick to clarify that Oscar Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist.

And im here to quickly clarify that Canada is indeed part of America. 

[bruce marshall 1,967]

I haven't loved his previous concert pieces - the few I have heard- but I'm EXCITED to hear this!

[Neo Romanza 23]

I’m definitely looking forward to a recording of the Piano Concerto (whenever this will be). JW has been hit/miss in his concert works for me, but the works I do love like the Violin Concerto No. 2, Treesong, Cello Concerto, Elegy for Cello and Orchestra, American Journey and Heartwood have been rather enjoyable and, at several points, incredibly moving.

[Tom 6,546]

I am expecting this to sound somewhat unique to Williams's oeuvre, but I would not be surprised if the second movement is in the same vein as the Prelude.  Hopefully, he goes all out in any case.  

[Foxfan 231]

7 hours ago, Tom said:

 "It's quite thorny, harmonically," said Ax.

 

Aww I was hoping for something neoromantic, but I suppose this was to be expected. At least piano is more forgiving of dissonance than other instruments.

 

Will still listen live with an open mind. 

[Jay 45,565]

So who from the board will be there in Saturday? 

 

I'll be attending.

[Joe Brausam 231]

I'll be there.

[JohnnyD 1,811]

8 hours ago, Pawel P. said:

https://www.instagram.com/stories/direct/3682928229022257751_1093421071

 

It looks like these are three movements of the Concerto – I don't really see them being named after jazz legends, as was previously stated.

 

Anyway, I'm planning to stay up all night and listen to the broadcast.

 

 

8 hours ago, Tom said:

https://www.berkshiremag.com/post/manny-john

 

While early reports and rumors suggested the piece was inspired by the musicality of three iconic American jazz pianists—Art Tatum, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson—Ax is quick to clarify. "It doesn't sound exactly like them," he says. "The second movement has a lot of Bill Evans in it—that dreamy thing he was so great at. The first is quite hard, and the third movement is very fast, like Oscar Peterson, lots of notes to practice." 

 

 

 

Despite Williams' playful remark in a 2024 interview that composing the piece for Ax took "chutzpah" on his part, Ax turns the compliment back toward the composer himself. "He's a very great man and a great composer," he says. "I'm so glad I wrote to him. It's a privilege." The concerto itself is a far cry from Williams' best-known film scores. "It's quite thorny, harmonically," said Ax. "It's not like the music for the movies. It's very strong, very compelling concert music." 

I cannot wait to hear this!

[bruce marshall 1,967]

Does Ax have a jazz background?

[Mr. Hooper 8,367]

7 hours ago, Muad'Dib said:

Technically American since we're all in the same continent

 

6 hours ago, Jesse said:

And im here to quickly clarify that Canada is indeed part of America. 

You don't say. 

[Maurizio 6,907]

6 hours ago, Tom said:

I am expecting this to sound somewhat unique to Williams's oeuvre, but I would not be surprised if the second movement is in the same vein as the Prelude.  Hopefully, he goes all out in any case.  

 

The Prelude has some remarks and nods to Bill Evans marked on the score, so it's legitimate to expect something with a similare climate.

 

5 hours ago, bruce marshall said:

Does Ax have a jazz background?

 

No, he's an uber-classical pianist, even though he dabbled many times into the contemporary repertoire. However, I don't expect the Concerto to be written in jazz language. I guess it's going to be something along the lines of Conversations.

[BB-8 6,013]

[BB-8 6,013]

 While we wait, remember this one?

 

[Steve 691]

About the premiere 

https://www.berkshiremag.com/post/manny-john

[Jay 45,565]

1 hour ago, Steve said:

About the premiere 

https://www.berkshiremag.com/post/manny-john

 

17 hours ago, Tom said:

https://www.berkshiremag.com/post/manny-john

 

While early reports and rumors suggested the piece was inspired by the musicality of three iconic American jazz pianists—Art Tatum, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson—Ax is quick to clarify. "It doesn't sound exactly like them," he says. "The second movement has a lot of Bill Evans in it—that dreamy thing he was so great at. The first is quite hard, and the third movement is very fast, like Oscar Peterson, lots of notes to practice." 

 

Despite Williams' playful remark in a 2024 interview that composing the piece for Ax took "chutzpah" on his part, Ax turns the compliment back toward the composer himself. "He's a very great man and a great composer," he says. "I'm so glad I wrote to him. It's a privilege." The concerto itself is a far cry from Williams' best-known film scores. "It's quite thorny, harmonically," said Ax. "It's not like the music for the movies. It's very strong, very compelling concert music." 

 

[BB-8 6,013]

"Ax performs Mahler Symphony No. 1..."

 

 

 

 

..."Slow: Dragging. Like a natural sound"

[Jesse 270]

1 hour ago, BB-8 said:

"Ax performs Mahler Symphony No. 1..."

In a special arrangement for solo piano by John Williams.

Don't worry, you won't notice the Orchestra missing, Ax is very good.

[BB-8 6,013]

 

[BSOinsider 134]

On 23/07/2025 at 1:42 PM, Pawel P. said:

https://www.instagram.com/stories/direct/3682928229022257751_1093421071

 

It looks like these are three movements of the Concerto – I don't really see them being named after jazz legends, as was previously stated.

 

Anyway, I'm planning to stay up all night and listen to the broadcast.

 

 

 

The Jazz piano influences are marked into the solo piano part at the first entrance of each movement.

Mvt.1 Art Tatum

Mvt.2 Bill Evans

Mvt.3 Oscar Peterson

 

(post edited to comply with copyright)

 

 

 

[BB-8 6,013]

I can see Iiro Rantala wanting to challenge this in Berlin...

[Tom 6,546]

So the title "Finale.presto" seems so odd to me.  Is that a music/jazz reference that I am not getting?  

[pete 1,313]

48 minutes ago, Tom said:

So the title "Finale.presto" seems so odd to me.  Is that a music/jazz reference that I am not getting?  

 

I don't think that's a jazz reference, merely a tempo description. Maybe!

[Jofi_ 154]

5 hours ago, BSOinsider said:

 

The Jazz piano influences are marked into the solo piano part.

Where are these photos from?

[BB-8 6,013]

Look like screen shots.

[QuartalHarmony 978]

1 hour ago, pete said:

 

I don't think that's a jazz reference, merely a tempo description.

It surely is. The only slight oddity is there seemingly being no space either side of the full stop and presto having a lower case p. The usual way of writing this for a fast final movement would be ‘Finale. Presto’ or ‘Finale - Presto’ or some such. ‘Finale.presto’ just looks odd, almost to the point where I’m wondering if it’s a mistake.

 

I can’t see any way in which it’s even a tangential jazz reference, though.

 

Mark

[Marauder 25]

Hi guys, is there going to be video live broadcast as well or they only live broadcast the audio?

Thank you

[Maurizio 6,907]

4 hours ago, QuartalHarmony said:

It surely is. The only slight oddity is there seemingly being no space either side of the full stop and presto having a lower case p. The usual way of writing this for a fast final movement would be ‘Finale. Presto’ or ‘Finale - Presto’ or some such. ‘Finale.presto’ just looks odd, almost to the point where I’m wondering if it’s a mistake.

 

I can’t see any way in which it’s even a tangential jazz reference, though.

 

Mark

 

Perhaps JW intended to have a space after the full stop, but the copyists marked it like this and nobody bothered to point it out or correct. Happens all the time.

[Maestro 1,578]

Some new quotes about the concerto from the maestro (plus some salient biographical details, because I couldn't help myself).

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/arts/dance/john-williams-piano-concerto-emanuel-ax-tanglewood.html

[JohnnyD 1,811]

7 minutes ago, Maestro said:

Some new quotes about the concerto from the maestro (plus some salient biographical details, because I couldn't help myself).

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/arts/dance/john-williams-piano-concerto-emanuel-ax-tanglewood.html

 

Awesome!

[crumbs 15,927]

Great piece @Maestro!

[12-Mile Reef 158]

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1C65beHrMA/

[Tom 6,546]

I don't want to wander into the realm of flattery, but Tim's NY Time's article may be the best piece of its sort on Williams. It conveys a genuine sense of William's wrestling with the very idea of writing a piano concerto and a short deep dive into its influences. His thoughts on the differences, yet symmetry in Williams's film/concert approaches are both enlightening and accurate, while articulated quickly enough for the general audience of the article to grasp.  

 

[BB-8 6,013]

"A recording by Deutsche Grammophon is coming..."

[Maurizio 6,907]

Let's pause for a moment and reflect on the fact that there is a new major concert work by John Williams being premiered and paired with one of the greatest symphonic masterworks of all time, i.e. Mahler 1st.

 

Just the thought of it makes me a very happy man.

[Maestro 1,578]

31 minutes ago, Tom said:

I don't want to wander into the realm of flattery, but Tim's NY Time's article may be the best piece of its sort on Williams. It conveys a genuine sense of William's wrestling with the very idea of writing a piano concerto and a short deep dive into its influences. His thoughts on the differences, yet symmetry in Williams's film/concert approaches are both enlightening and accurate, while articulated quickly enough for the general audience of the article to grasp.  

 

Too late—I'm flattered! Seriously, that's very kind of you. It's nice to hear that I might have achieved what I attempted.

[BB-8 6,013]

Interested to learn whether JW will sit through Mahler 1.

[crumbs 15,927]

Really hope we get some photos of JW at the performance, even if he's just chilling in the audience.

[Mr. Hooper 8,367]

21 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

Interested to learn whether JW will sit through Mahler 1.

Interested to learn whether he'll be there at all.

 

(Also, yes, I'm still committed to my niece's birthday party.)