John Williams & Gustavo Dudamel conduct the LA Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl, July 7-9 2023

[Jay 37,287]

https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/2369/2023-07-07/maestro-of-the-movies-john-williams-with-the-la-phil

 

Maestro of the Movies: John Williams with the LA Phil
Fri / July 7, 2023 - 8:00PM

Sat / July 8, 2023 - 8:00PM

SUN / July 9, 2023 - 8:00PM
GATE TIME: 6:00 PM

 

Artists
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Bing Wang, violin
Cal State Fullerton University Singers
Los Angeles Children's Chorus

 

About this Performance
John Williams' scores are instantly recognizable, filled with soaring melodies, poignant emotion, and thrilling moments. It's little wonder that he's long been considered the greatest composer in Hollywood history, having contributed to some of the biggest films of all time: Star Wars, Harry Potter, Schindler’s List, Indiana Jones, E.T., Jaws, and so many more. Join John and his dear friend and colleague Gustavo Dudamel as they share the podium for three magical nights of movie music performed by the LA Phil, including selections with film clips.

[michael_grig 464]

5 minutes ago, Jay said:

Cal State Fullerton University Singers
Los Angeles Children's Chorus

 

Home Alone, Duel of the Fates?

[Andy 4,085]

Wow, Epic!

[BB-8 3,461]

3 minutes ago, Michael Grigorowitsch said:

Home Alone, Duel of the Fates?

 

Amistad!

[Jay 37,287]

4 minutes ago, Michael Grigorowitsch said:

Home Alone, Duel of the Fates?

 

This is the first concert he's doing after Indiana Jones 5 opens...

[BB-8 3,461]

Double Trouble

[michael_grig 464]

25 minutes ago, Jay said:

 

This is the first concert he's doing after Indiana Jones 5 opens...

Hm, interesting, however, I can't imagine a choir being involved in a concert arrangement of an Indiana Jones theme.

[BB-8 3,461]

 

 

[michael_grig 464]

20 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

 

 

If they play ANY of these pieces at the Bowl, God be forewarned.

 

[Tom 4,639]

3 hours ago, Michael Grigorowitsch said:

Hm, interesting, however, I can't imagine a choir being involved in a concert arrangement of an Indiana Jones theme.

"The High-Council Meeting and Indy's Funeral."

[igger6 894]

No love for "Look Down, Lord"? 

 

But seriously, this is awesome.  I've been dreaming about a choral Williams concert for years.  Heck, even Jurassic Park with chorus would be a rare treat.

[mrbellamy 6,272]

"Hymn to the Fallen," maybe, this concert will be a couple weeks before Saving Private Ryan's 25th anniversary

[Muad'Dib 1,801]

I'm checking the page and right now there's only an option to "buy package".

 

Is it not possible to buy individual tickets in a more traditional fashion?

[batmatt92 4]

Not until May, unfortunately.

[karelm 2,903]

JW's hometown orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has a great lineup of JW concerts in the next season including E.T. in concert conducted by Dudamel, Hollywood film music curated by Johnny, Superman LTP and something called Harry Potter Grand Suite.  

 

John Williams Spotlight (laphil.com)

[BB-8 3,461]

Wow, Harry Potter Grand Suite...

 

Any idea whether this is a new special arrangement?

[Tom 4,639]

My guess is that it is just a bunch of individual pieces.  Did Williams have a hand in those laser projection things?  Maybe this is something based on that?  

 

I would love for truly massive, suites, each for HP, SW, and IJ.  

[NewBlueEyes 4]

I hope someday we get symphonic suite of the fabelmans. The music sounded beautiful

[BB-8 3,461]

Hollywood Bowl auf Instagram: „It’s movie music magic when your favorite characters from Star Wars, Harry Potter, and more take to the big screen. Grab your seat at LA’s…“

[BB-8 3,461]

Can anyone explain the association with SBC London and BFI?

[lairdo 726]

I'm excited that I will be attending the Saturday concert. I have not been to the Bowl since pre-COVID (or seen JW since Tanglewood in 2019 SAW him at the Indy 5 Premiere!)!

 

Hope to catch up with fellow JWFans that might be there that night. 

[lairdo 726]

I am fairly sure Helena's Theme will be played despite JW playing that last September at the Bowl. I think it is unlikely we'll get any other Dial of Destiny music though. Maybe Marion's theme and the Raiders March. Hope I am wrong though. I do wonder if perhaps someone has cut together a package with scenes of Helena in the movie and that will be shown on the video screen while they play her theme.

[BrotherSound 2,242]

On 14/6/2023 at 10:34 AM, lairdo said:

I'm excited that I will be attending the Saturday concert. I have not been to the Bowl since pre-COVID (or seen JW since Tanglewood in 2019 SAW him at the Indy 5 Premiere!)!

 

Hope to catch up with fellow JWFans that might be there that night.

I’ll be there! Anyone else?

[lairdo 726]

On 14/6/2023 at 10:34 AM, lairdo said:

I'm excited that I will be attending the Saturday concert. I have not been to the Bowl since pre-COVID (or seen JW since Tanglewood in 2019 SAW him at the Indy 5 Premiere!)!

 

Hope to catch up with fellow JWFans that might be there that night. 

 

Ah rats. (I hate rats.) I've come down with something and am not going to LA to risk the travel (or risk getting sick my 80+ year old parents who are going to the concert). 

[Taikomochi 1,136]

Good on you for taking it seriously. Sorry you have to miss it. 

[igger6 894]

So was anybody at opening night of this?  What did they play?  Nothing on Twitter yet.  While we wait, though, feast your eyes on this poster...

 

https://twitter.com/thecinemadoctor/status/1675546753196789761

 

[Dr. Know 326]

According to folks who were there, the show included a Star Wars montage of clips accompanied by Duel of the Fates.  I’m going tomorrow night.

[Andrej 47]

Great concert, as always 

[BB-8 3,461]

Wow, Asteroid Field!

When was that last played?

[artguy360 1,843]

I was there tonight! Tonight, entirely thanks to my girlfriend, we saw John Williams for the first time live in concert with the LA Philharmonic conducting some of his best music. The experience was incredible and better than I could have dreamed. What a show and what a set!

 

The first half was conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. He conducted:

 

1. Cowboy's theme by John Williams

2. Salute to Hollywood

3. Love Scene from Vertigo by Bernard Hermann

4. Call of the Champions by John Williams 

5. Dry Your Tears, Africa

6. Duel of the Fates

7. Love theme from Superman

8. Superman March

 

Then intermission 

 

John Williams conducted the 2nd half. He conducted:

1. Adventures of Mutt

2. Helena's Theme

3. Raider's March

4. Jurassic Park Theme

5. Schindler's List

6. Asteroid Field

7. Leia's Theme

8. Throne Room and Finale

 

Then he played 3 encores:

 

1. Yoda's Theme

2. ET

3. Imperial March

 

It was incredible! I did not expect 3 encores! I'll post impressions later.

 

One highlight: during the Imperial March, Gustavo Dudamel came back out with a red lightsaber and JW invited him onto the podium. Then JW stepped down, picked up a blue lightsaber and pretended to have a duel with Gustavo! They finished by co-conducting with red and blue lightsabers in hand. It was hilarious. JW had great energy all night.

[Tom 4,639]

Olympic Spirit or Call of the Champions?  If the latter, how was it live with choir?  

 

Did Williams say anything memorable?  

[artguy360 1,843]

4 minutes ago, Tom said:

Olympic Spirit or Call of the Champions?  If the latter, how was it live with choir?  

 

Did Williams say anything memorable?  

Sharing some post-concert impressions, including responding to your questions:

 

I feel like the program really hit its stride with Call of the Champions (edited my post above). The footage from the Olympics was synced really well to the music. Some great editing by someone. The live choir made quite an impact. There was a children's choir and an adult choir from a local university. The fullness of the choir was especially impressive during Dry Your Tears, Afrika. I thought the choir sounded better during Dry Your Tears, Afrika than during Duel of the Fates where their voices got drowned out a bit by the orchestra. I have really grown to love the former piece since JW re-recorded it for the latest Spielberg collaboration album. Hearing Scene D'amour from Vertigo was an unexpected treat. I love that score and the music played live really captured the cyclical, hypnotic nature of the piece.

 

The Superman March was performed to footage and stills of JW including childhood photos and footage from his recent European concerts. Again, well edited and very fun.

 

Throughout the night the strings were lush and beautiful, the horns had a fullness to them, and the woodwinds shined every opportunity they got. The principal oboe, clarinet, and flute came through with beautiful clarity and tenderness. The trumpets and trombones, unfortunately, sounded distant and thin. During the big moments of the Jurassic Park theme, Raider's March, and Asteroid Field, they lacked the punchiness and strength you'd expect.

 

The Golden Age quality of Helena's theme was wonderful, and the soloist for Schindler's List left me feeling emotional. Despite the brass section lacking in general, Throne Room and Finale was still a ton of fun. I was glad to hear the Force theme tonight. The ending fanfare of ET was probably the best the brass sounded all night. 

 

There were a couple obvious flubs. Once the woodwinds entered really harshly during I think the Jurassic Park theme and it was momentarily grating on the ears. The principal horn player flubbed near the start of Princess Leia's theme and I think in the middle of the Raider's March someone knocked something over near a mic. I heard a sharp metallic sound of something hitting the floor.

 

Minor quibbles aside, it was an incredible experience. There were so many moments, like the end of Dry Your Tears, Afrika, the big crescendo in Princess Leia's theme, and others where the sound of the orchestra filled my entire body and gave me chills. At the same time, the solo passages for violin, clarinet, oboe, and flute were achingly beautiful. The guy sitting next to us who sees JW annually at the Hollywood Bowl said he thought this was one of JW's best concerts at the Bowl. After the concert, I asked if he was a member here (because he was a total JE nerd!) but he said he was not on this forum.

 

The most memorable thing JW said was right before the 2nd encore, after he had already returned to the podium, picked up his baton, and the orchestra was about to start, he suddenly remembered to pick up the mic and quickly said, "ET!" to introduce the piece. It made me and many others laugh out loud.

[JTN 2,002]

https://twitter.com/alisonmartino/status/1677540610830659584

[BB-8 3,461]

Have to get used to seeing him without spectacles.

[Marian Schedenig 8,174]

22 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

Have to get used to seeing him without spectacles.

 

I've updated my LEGO Brickhead and still haven't gotten used to seeing that.

[JTN 2,002]

56 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

Have to get used to seeing him without spectacles.

We’ll have years to get used to it. 

[BB-8 3,461]

Next he will shave to look like a juvenile Curley.

[Steve 589]

13 hours ago, BB-8 said:

Next he will shave to look like a juvenile Curley.

Maybe he will get a hair transplantation next? 🧓

[Darth Mulder 153]

2 hours ago, JTW said:

https://twitter.com/alisonmartino/status/1677540610830659584

 

Eye surgery confirmed

[igger6 894]

Heck of a montage for “Duel of the Fates”! They got ten films in there! (Sadly missed the relevant scene in Solo as far as I could tell.) This was a treat to watch even at fingernail size.

 

I’ve never seen Williams at the Hollywood Bowl, but as a CSO four-timer, I can’t complain. Every year when these reports and videos surface, it’s like attending a wedding for someone you love: the happiness isn’t quite yours, but you’re glad it’s there and glad to crack off a piece of it for yourself. 

[JTN 2,002]

37 minutes ago, Steve said:

Maybe he will get a hair transplantaion next? 🧓

John Williams was spotted today.

[Tom 4,639]

7 minutes ago, JTW said:

John Williams was spotted today.

What the hell is a "star wars"?  

[JTN 2,002]

5 minutes ago, Tom said:

What the hell is a "star wars"?  

Who is this Spielberg kid and what did he direct? 

[Space Pineapple Prod. 183]

9 hours ago, BB-8 said:

Wow, Asteroid Field!

When was that last played?

At the bowl? 2016. I was there.

[Darth Mulder 153]

18 minutes ago, JTW said:

John Williams was spotted today.

 

Spielberg can recommend his clinic and doctor.

[Ricard 2,242]

Theme from Jurassic Park

 

Theme from Schindler's List

 

Throne Room and Finale

 

Flying Theme from E.T. (excerpt)

 

The Imperial March

 

Williams vs Dudamel lightsaber duel

https://twitter.com/eddiepence/status/1677599171958968320

The highlight of John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl tonight was his lightsaber duel with Gustavo Dudamel. #hollywoodbowl #johnwilliamsatthebowl #starwars pic.twitter.com/DoEWAvyJZY

— eddiepence (@eddiepence) July 8, 2023

[Brando 1,856]

John Williams next opponent:

[JTN 2,002]

John Williams duelling with Dudamel and stepping onto to the podium next to him and “co-conducting” The Imperial March is simply amazing, hilarious and charming at the same time.

 

It’s so great to see that Williams at 91 is having the time of his life, enjoying every second of it. What a living LEGEND.

[BrotherSound 2,242]

 

Made it!

[Taikomochi 1,136]

I think I’m probably in that photo but very small and blurry