John Williams 2023 Tanglewood concerts

[MSM 126]

On Friday August 11 JW’s La Jolla quartet was performed by BSO members among whom Jessica Zhou in Ozawa Hall. Then they played Theme from Sabrina in an arrangement for the same ensemble. Sabrina is my all time fav JW score and this version was just too beautiful😪

 

At 8:00 pm Anne-Sophie Mutter masterfully performed JW’s Violin Concerto no. 2 in the Shed (conducted by Andris Nelsons) after which the Maestro took the stage once again to lead ASM and the BSO in two wonderful encores (Hedwig’s Theme and Helena’s Theme).

[Miguel Andrade 1,263]

41 minutes ago, MSM said:

On Friday August 11 JW’s La Jolla quartet was performed by BSO members among whom Jessica Zhou in Ozawa Hall. Then they played Theme from Sabrina in an arrangement for the same ensemble. Sabrina is my all time fav JW score and this version was just too beautiful😪

 

At 8:00 pm Anne-Sophie Mutter masterfully performed JW’s Violin Concerto no. 2 in the Shed (conducted by Andris Nelsons) after which the Maestro took the stage once again to lead ASM and the BSO in two wonderful encores (Hedwig’s Theme and Helena’s Theme).

 

That was the evening I wish I was there 😍

[BB-8 3,478]

Oh my God...I am now thinking that there may be surprise appearances of JW in Salzburg and Lucerne and at other places where the BSO is playing Violin Concerto No. 2.

[WilliamsStarShip2282 308]

9 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

Oh my God...I am now thinking that there may be surprise appearances of JW in Salzburg and Lucerne and at other places where the BSO is playing Violin Concerto No. 2.

 

Nah, he has Japan coming up, and their tour schedule is pretty fast. Its not like taking an hour or two flight from LA to texas like that last time

[Miguel Andrade 1,263]

42 minutes ago, WilliamsStarShip2282 said:

 

Nah, he has Japan coming up, and their tour schedule is pretty fast. Its not like taking an hour or two flight from LA to texas like that last time

 

Yes, can't see that happen, as cool as it would be to have Williams at Salzburg. At least, having his Violin Concerto performed there, at such a revered festival, is quite something. Unfortunately I won't be able to travel much this summer, otherwise I would love to be there, independent of Williams himself being present.

[Mr. Hooper 1,792]

While Williams himself can't always put in an appearance, his cardboard cutout is available—and really patient with photo requests...

 

 

[Marian Schedenig 8,200]

It's been in the sun too long.

[BB-8 3,478]

On 14/08/2023 at 3:16 PM, WilliamsStarShip2282 said:

 

Nah, he has Japan coming up, and their tour schedule is pretty fast. Its not like taking an hour or two flight from LA to texas like that last time

Nevertheless, ASM's pos(t)ing on social media has prompted me to get tickets for the German premier of Violin Concerto No. 2 in Hamburg.

[DangerMotif 1,038]

Based off my conversations with the BSO ticket office I think there’s a solid chance they play Duel Of The Fates at the Star Wars concert next Sunday.

[rpvee 805]

1 hour ago, DangerMotif said:

Based off my conversations with the BSO ticket office I think there’s a solid chance they play Duel Of The Fates at the Star Wars concert next Sunday.

Do tell!

[Smeltington 1,440]

If they're going to represent all 9 films, then it only makes sense.

[DangerMotif 1,038]

8 hours ago, rpvee said:

Do tell!

They said they’ll be playing pieces with some videos of Williams recording them or film. He said that they played DOTF a couple weeks ago and said he he thinks they may do it again but he has no clue until the day of the concert and it was probably a guess.

[BB-8 3,478]

John Williams appears here during rehearsals of Mutter, BSO, Nelsons...and gives some advice:

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwSt7fMglvl

 

Stories • Instagram

 

 

 

 

[Mr. Hooper 1,792]

A good photo for the caption competition thread.

[DangerMotif 1,038]

1 hour ago, BB-8 said:

John Williams appears here during rehearsals of Mutter, BSO, Nelsons...and give some advice:

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwSt7fMglvl

 

 

 

I assume the odds of him showing up sunday are pretty low due to the Japan trip but you new know

[BB-8 3,478]

1 hour ago, DangerMotif said:

I assume the odds of him showing up sunday are pretty low due to the Japan trip but you new know

If he's been micro-managing the cadenza he may wish to show up...

[BB-8 3,478]

14 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said:

A good photo for the caption competition thread.

 

 

THE LOST TEETH

Koussevitzky Park

[BSOinsider 42]

On 05/08/2023 at 11:55 PM, rpvee said:

 

EDIT: Also, Duel of the Fates’ ending used the alternate version where the choir went up an octave mid-note. Someone here can probably explain it much better than me. 

 

On 06/08/2023 at 3:15 PM, Jay said:

 

Wow, thanks for that!  I dunno why I didn't notice that change live, but it's interesting!  I don't know if I've ever listened to a live recording of DOTF in concert before to know if the published sheet music they use for this has always been that way, or if - for some reason - JW recently changed it.  That will be interesting to get to the bottom of

 

 

The Duel of the Fates was the HL Signature edition with no alterations that I know of. 

 

On 07/08/2023 at 7:15 AM, BB-8 said:

 

Just a quick question re the wooden (oaken?) rostrum seen so clearly on this picture:

 

I can remember seeing this model specifically with Andris Nelsons on tour through Europe (at the Gewandhaus Leipzig) several years ago. More recently I haven't seen it outside of Boston / Tanglewood.

 

Is this something that was custom built for Nelsons / for BSO or is that just coincidence and there are many similar models at various locations worldwide?

 

On 07/08/2023 at 3:56 PM, Foxfan said:

 

Yeah unless they have duplicates, they must take the rostrum from Symphony Hall everywhere the orchestra goes. The railing, however, comes on/off based on the wishes of the conductor. Williams and Nelsons keep it, whereas Lockhart usually goes without it.

This is correct, a specific wooden rostrum travels with the orchestra. There are multiple, but they look the same. 

 

On 07/08/2023 at 12:40 PM, DangerMotif said:

He’s the director of the JW’s documentary. They where supposed to record his NY concert but didn’t in the end, maybe they did this one.

 

The documentary crew was on-campus and filming for the days leading up to Film Night, and the concert itself.

 

On 05/08/2023 at 11:55 PM, rpvee said:

 

EDIT: Anakin’s Theme got reworked a bit, too!

 

 

Yes, a new edited version by JW was premiered in the Film Night concert. 

 

Using the HL Signature edition number system, 2 bars were added between m 24 and 25. HL Bars 25 and 26 are slightly re orchestrated (added vln2+vla trem, vln1 8va, HL m.26 beat 2 triplet). HL m.27 is as printed. HL m40 to 44 has been completely rewritten with new melody, harmony, meter, and orchestration. HL m.45 is back to print. 

 

[BB-8 3,478]

27 minutes ago, BSOinsider said:

This is correct, a specific wooden rostrum travels with the orchestra. There are multiple, but they look the same. 

 

Cool, so I might be seeing one next week in Hamburg.

 

Wed, 6 Sep 2023 - Boston Symphony Orchestra / Anne-Sophie Mutter / Andris Nelsons - Elbphilharmonie Hamburg - Elbphilharmonie

 

P.S. - TICKET ALERT!

 

[Mr. Hooper 1,792]

So I said I wasn't sure how I felt about the arrangement of 'The Asteroid Field' performed for Film Night...and put it down to just being surprised because I expected to hear the film version.

 

I tried listening to the radio broadcast online, and still couldn't get into it. It felt disjointed and like the original version was chopped up and shuffled around.

 

Well it seems it was just missing energy for me, and needed to be more uptempo, which I realized when I saw this performance:

 

Now this version might just be too uptempo, and on the frenetic side. But it at least doesn't feel disjointed, and the abrupt shifts in the music feel organic.

 

I guess what I'm saying is that I quite like the arrangement, if it's played with enough oomph!