John Williams to conduct at the 2023 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival in Matsumoto, Japan (Sept. 2, 2023)

[BuzzLightyear 143]

https://www.ozawa-festival.com/en/news/2023/02/07/140000.html

 

Quote

For the subsequent <Program B> scheduled for Saturday, September 2, world-class composer John Williams, who has been a steadfast friend of Ozawa for over 50 years, will conduct SKO. The full program will be announced at a later date, but will include iconic film music masterpieces from Star Wars, E.T., and Harry Potter.

The bond between Ozawa and Mr. Williams dates back to when Ozawa was music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In the 1970s, when Mr. Williams had already established himself as a composer with many masterpieces, it was Ozawa who encouraged him to conduct and invited him in 1979 to take up the baton with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Mr. Williams went on to become music director of the Boston Pops Orchestra 1980–93, and is now its conductor laureate. He continues to be active as a conductor, having recently collaborated with the Vienna Philharmonic (January 2020), the Boston Symphony Orchestra (September 10, 2021), and the Berlin Philharmonic (October 2021), with those performances recorded live and released as CDs.

 

[Thor 9,201]

What, he's going to Japan now?! Crazy with all these long-distance travels for a man who turns 91 tomorrow.

[Jurassic Shark 14,526]

Are we sure it won't be William Ross with a fake beard?

[zoltan_902 143]

To think he was going to retire from the strain of writing notes on paper; He'd rather relax travelling to long-distance podiums. Understandable.

[Jay 41,649]

Woah

[pete 1,061]

Oh September 2 is a Saturday, and I'm not too far away in Seoul. No idea how hard tickets will be to get, but I'll try! and I'm not working the week before. 

[Jay 41,649]

I've always wanted to go to Japan...

[Tom 5,410]

It would be cool if Williams worked in "for seiji."

[BB-8 4,617]

This story springs to mind:

 

 

 

One thing is already certain: the Japanese will produce a fine recording in all possible formats.

[Quppa 229]

Fascinating - Matsumoto is (comparatively) in the middle of nowhere, and it might be a bit sweaty in September. It would be a shame if this is the only concert he does while he's in the country.

 

All the same, I'll be there if I can score tickets.

[BB-8 4,617]

I was expecting an appearance at Hollywood Bowl in September...

[crumbs 15,364]

52 minutes ago, Jay said:

I've always wanted to go to Japan...

 

Me too!! 

 

This news is breathtaking to me. At 91 JW is practically my de facto travel influencer, inspiring me to visit countries I've never seen before. 

 

ASM alluded to him one day conducting in the "far east" but I thought it would be a bridge too far at his age... yet here we are. The flight from LA to Tokyo is no small feat for a man of his age. 

[Jay 41,649]

Since he lives near Tanglewood for the whole month of August every year, I assume he'll be flying to Japan from the east coast

[Thor 9,201]

30 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

This story springs to mind:

 

 

 

One thing is already certain: the Japanese will produce a fine recording in all possible formats.

 

Whoa! I had no idea that Ozawa was in such a poor shape (sorry if this is old news to everyone else, but I clearly haven't been keeping up to date on his life)! Moving video, especially at the end.

[Sunshine Reger 3,634]

16 minutes ago, crumbs said:

The flight from LA to Tokyo is no small feat for a man of his age. 

Not that I doubt he can do it, but I hope he is at least going to use an airplane!

[BB-8 4,617]

Looks like he's close to doing a concert per month?

 

What might happen in October, November and December 2023?

[Jay 41,649]

5 minutes ago, Quppa said:

It would be a shame if this is the only concert he does while he's in the country.

 

Oh man yea, what if more announcements are coming...

[crumbs 15,364]

Just now, Fabulin said:

Not that I doubt he can do it unaided, but I hope he is at least going to use an airplane!

 

Well he's not going to travel by jetski! 

[Jay 41,649]

Just now, BB-8 said:

Looks like he's close to doing a concert per month?

 

What might happen in October, November and December 2023?

 

Well, he'll probably do the Hollywood Bowl sometime in September too?  Just not the traditional Labor Day weekend because of this concert being then

[crumbs 15,364]

7 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

What might happen in October, November and December 2023?

 

More Indy 5 revisions. 

 

7 minutes ago, Jay said:

 

Oh man yea, what if more announcements are coming...

 

This is only his second time conducting in Asia, yeah?

 

And the previous time was in Japan as well, though that was a tour with the BSO? I wonder if there's another orchestra he's been invited to conduct in Tokyo...

 

You'd have to think the suite from Memoirs of a Geisha would be a shoe-in for these concerts. 

[BB-8 4,617]

23 minutes ago, Quppa said:

It would be a shame if this is the only concert he does while he's in the country.

 

That's what we were thinking about Italy 2022 and ended up with a <30 public rehearsal.

[Steve 648]

16 minutes ago, crumbs said:

This is only his second time conducting in Asia, yeah?

 

And the previous time was in Japan as well, though that was a tour with the BSO? I wonder if there's another orchestra he's been invited to conduct in Tokyo...

He has toured Japan with the Pops in 1987, 1990 and 1993. So he knows the country quite good.

[BB-8 4,617]

[crumbs 15,364]

Didn't realise he toured three times! Very interesting... 

[Tom 5,410]

He composed Sound the Bells for one of those trips.  

[BB-8 4,617]

 

 

[Muad'Dib 1,910]

Sugoi!

[WilliamsStarShip2282 326]

2 hours ago, pete said:

Oh September 2 is a Saturday, and I'm not too far away in Seoul. No idea how hard tickets will be to get, but I'll try! and I'm not working the week before. 

 I'm in Beijing- Asian fan club meet up in Japan

[Jurassic Shark 14,526]

9 minutes ago, WilliamsStarShip2282 said:

 I'm in Beijing- Asian fan club meet up in Japan

 

Didn't you guys have your own fan website? JW even wrote a few bars of music for the site!

[bigjimwilson 289]

2 hours ago, Jay said:

I've always wanted to go to Japan...

I wonder if we'd have any better luck finding a drink at the end of the night?.... 

[Andy 5,692]

They better press the record button!

[igger6 983]

3 hours ago, crumbs said:

 

ASM alluded to him one day conducting in the "far east"

 

2 hours ago, Jay said:

 

Oh man yea, what if more announcements are coming...

 

Seven Years in Tibet LTP in China! 

[Brando 2,382]

5 hours ago, crumbs said:

 

Well he's not going to travel by jetski! 

 

[Tom 5,410]

1 hour ago, Brando said:

 

Is that the singer from Toto?  

[Amer 2,421]

I think it is fabulous that he is returning to Japan again. Their were fantastic concerts done with the BSO in the early 90's and I remember fondly the JFK suite he premiered there. Some wonderful footages on YouTube exist. 

 

What makes me more eager is that if the concerts are being recorded  then a chance would exist to get the recordings out on DG Japan label in all formats CD, Vinyl, Blu ray & SACD!  

And yeah..bring on  ANGELA'S ASHES, SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET and MEMOIRES OF A GEISHA!

[apples 64]

On 8/2/2023 at 6:04 AM, Amer said:

I think it is fabulous that he is returning to Japan again. Their were fantastic concerts done with the BSO in the early 90's and I remember fondly the JFK suite he premiered there. Some wonderful footages on YouTube exist. 

 

What makes me more eager is that if the concerts are being recorded  then a chance would exist to get the recordings out on DG Japan label in all formats CD, Vinyl, Blu ray & SACD!  

And yeah..bring on  ANGELA'S ASHES, SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET and MEMOIRES OF A GEISHA!

Angelas Ashes wow! That would be a dream!

[King Mark 3,805]

He should write a full concert version of The John Williams Japanese Fan Theme and then play it over a video where we only hear bits of it with people talking over it.

[Tom 5,410]

On 07/02/2023 at 11:04 AM, Andy said:

They better press the record button!

All the best stuff is made in Japan.

[pete 1,061]

The new Variety article mentions two performances.

Quote

a pair of performances in Tokyo and Matsumoto in Japan.

 

I think that's the first mention of a Tokyo concert.

 

And I just learned a friend's wife is from Matsumoto. She's been tasked with buying me a ticket! Hope she can do it! I'll try attend both. Please God and Santa!

[Quppa 229]

Great to hear there will be a Tokyo concert - much simpler to get there (but maybe harder to score a ticket to the event).

[AOP 278]

Amazing news!
 

I’ll be going for tickets for both Tokyo and Matsumoto since I’m based in Japan.

 

Williams is idolized here so I imagine the tickets will sell like hotcakes! I am also pretty sure they will produce some concert merchandise… programs, posters, mugs, hand towels, etc.

 

If anyone is in town, give me a shout and we’ll meet up for post-concert beers 🍻 

[WilliamsStarShip2282 326]

I'm not so far away in Beijing, and I am so paranoid I won't get a ticket haha.

[Amer 2,421]

I think John Williams likes Sushi !

[BB-8 4,617]

I wanted to write Sushi a theme...

 

[WilliamsStarShip2282 326]

Seeing this post again i thought of this concert. I really wish there was a good copy of it someplace, its really excellent

 

Btw, just saw the page for Saito Kinen updated. John's date is by lottery. gutted, with my like i won't get it.

 

https://www.ozawa-festival.com/en/tickets/

[crumbs 15,364]

1 hour ago, WilliamsStarShip2282 said:

Btw, just saw the page for Saito Kinen updated. John's date is by lottery. gutted, with my luck i won't get it.

 

 

[BB-8 4,617]

9 hours ago, WilliamsStarShip2282 said:

Seeing this post again i thought of this concert. I really wish there was a good copy of it someplace, its really excellent

 

Btw, just saw the page for Saito Kinen updated. John's date is by lottery. gutted, with my like i won't get it.

 

https://www.ozawa-festival.com/en/tickets/

Milano ticketting was also more or less a lottery.

 

However, this time there is an additional hurdle:

 

"Tickets sold only in Japan."

 

[crumbs 15,364]

1 hour ago, BB-8 said:

"Tickets sold only in Japan."

 

So what, the website will restrict sales only to people living in Japan? How the heck are they going to enforce that in an age of VPNs?

 

10 hours ago, WilliamsStarShip2282 said:

Btw, just saw the page for Saito Kinen updated. John's date is by lottery. gutted, with my like i won't get it.

 

How does this work exactly? The conditions on the page seem highly convoluted.

 

So even if you purchase a ticket (which you can only do in Japan?!), it only gives you entry to a "raffle" for attendance on a particular day, of which JW's only performing on one? What a bizarre, idiotic process.

 

I was psyching myself up for my first trip to Japan but this sounds like way too much work. Not to mention the high cost for potentially zero reward, if you don't even get entry to JW's concert. I note the tickets are non-refundable and cannot be transferred under any circumstances.

[pete 1,061]

Wow, I have a friend in Japan who was going to try get tickets the morning they were due to go on sale - I live in nearby Seoul.  This cannot be transfered is a worry. I hope my friend can buy tickets in my name? I trust her with my credit card details.

 

Great, the click for more details link is currently dead.  https://www.ozawa-festival.com/en/tickets/programs/2023/program-b.html

 

Argh... the Nihon-go page works:

https://www.ozawa-festival.com/programs/2023/program-b.html

 

You can apply for a max of two tickets. Well, I'll be doing that - or at least my friend will. If successful and we can jump through all the hoops, one will be for my lady friend if she can go. If not, it's for someone here. I assume both tickets will be in the same name? 

 

I can be in Japan for the Saturday concert, but not the Tuesday Tokyo concert. Drats... but a little hope against hope.

[WilliamsStarShip2282 326]

1 hour ago, pete said:

Wow, I have a friend in Japan who was going to try get tickets the morning they were due to go on sale - I live in nearby Seoul.  This cannot be transfered is a worry. I hope my friend can buy tickets in my name? I trust her with my credit card details.

 

Great, the click for more details link is currently dead.  https://www.ozawa-festival.com/en/tickets/programs/2023/program-b.html

 

Argh... the Nihon-go page works:

https://www.ozawa-festival.com/programs/2023/program-b.html

 

You can apply for a max of two tickets. Well, I'll be doing that - or at least my friend will. If successful and we can jump through all the hoops, one will be for my lady friend if she can go. If not, it's for someone here. I assume both tickets will be in the same name? 

 

I can be in Japan for the Saturday concert, but not the Tuesday Tokyo concert. Drats... but a little hope against hope.

 

If you can get away with it and she doesn't go I will absolutely take you up on that pretty please!!! I will ask that what that means though, because it says you have to submit an "application" for the lottery which means probably providing an address in Japan.