The Greatest Works of John Williams (Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Chorus of Tokyo, Taizo Takemoto)

[Quppa 117]

I was (unsuccessfully) trying to find details on the upcoming Tokyo concert and noticed this album was released a couple of days ago.

 

I haven't listened enough yet to comment on the performances, but the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra is top-tier, and Taizo Takemoto is a well-known conductor.

 

English tracklist:

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Children's Suite For Orchestra: Hedwig's Flight
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Children's Suite For Orchestra: Howarts Forever
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Children's Suite For Orchestra: Voldemort
4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Children's Suite For Orchestra: Nimbus 2000
5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Children's Suite For Orchestra: Fluffy's Harp
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Children's Suite For Orchestra: Quidditch
7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Children's Suite For Orchestra: Family Portrait
8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Children's Suite For Orchestra: Diagon Alley
9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Children's Suite For Orchestra: Harry's Wondrous World
10. Saving Private Ryan Hymn to the Fallen
11. Schindler's List Theme (Cello Version)
12. Schindler's List Jewish Town
13. Star Wars: The Last Jedi The Rebellion Is Reborn
14. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace The Flag Parade
15. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace The Adventures of Jar Jar
16. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Duel of the Fates

 

 

[Jay 37,373]

Wow Jewish Town isn't played live very often

[Tom 4,671]

Is this the first complete recording of the HP suite?  

[King Mark 3,631]

hmm, a choirless Duel of the Fates would have been more interesting

[Quppa 117]

3 hours ago, Quppa said:

Taizo Takemoto is a well-known conductor

 

Following up my own post, he's been conducting John Williams pieces since at least 2003 - previous recordings include the Star Wars Film Spectacular and John Williams Film Spectacular (both from the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra).

 

He did an interview about the album here (Google Translate).

 

1 hour ago, Tom said:

Is this the first complete recording of the HP suite?  

 

The interviewer seems to think so.

[Dr. Know 326]

Excellent performances!

[artguy360 1,844]

That's a great set list. Nice to see TPM played in concert.

[bollemanneke 3,352]

FINALLY AN OFFICIAL DIAGON ALLEY??? Must... listen...

[Tallguy 3,401]

On 16/06/2023 at 9:39 AM, King Mark said:

hmm, a choirless Duel of the Fates would have been more interesting

 

I've heard it. And it was. (At an Amy Grant Christmas concert of all places.)

[bollemanneke 3,352]

Not surprised. I vastly prefer the choirless Schindler's List cues from the sessions as well. In Immolation, the voices completely obliterate the Bach-like music.

[bollemanneke 3,352]

Finally managed to listen to the children’s suite.

 

1.      Hedwig’s Flight: the celesta is so magical here.

2.      Hogwarts Forever: no complaints.

3.      Voldemort: A bit on the slow side and there’s a curious tremolo/vibrato thing going on, I wonder if JW wrote it that way. And as usual, the slower they play, the more details you pick up.

4.      Nimbus 2000: no observations. Or one: very nice flute playing.

5.      Fluffy’s Harp: again on the slow side, which places too much emphasis on the harp tremolos. But again, I got into it eventually.

6.      Quidditch: A bit heavy-handed. Lots of details, but something was just… off. The brass section seems not confident enough, the notes are too legato…

7.      Family Portrait: Loved the vibrato in the cellos.

8.      Diagon Alley: There’s a drum instrument that really shouldn’t be there at all, unless the sheet music calls for it, but I found it very intrusive and it drowns out the harp too. Really glad to finally have a studio version of the great ending, but again, there’s something heavy-handed about it. It doesn’t… sparkle enough.

9.      Harry’s Wondrous World: Quite nice, until they suddenly skipped the entire first section of the Family Theme, like the end credits do. I have no idea where this comes from as they ignore every other film edit. Is that even an option in the printed score? Also, in the Quidditch part, they made the same ‘mistake’ Berlin did, which leads me to believe it’s not a performance mistake at all and this concert is now perfect. But of course, no delicious ritardando on the A-sharp and none at all during the final bars. Really unfortunate.

 

I feel very fuzzy and warm after hearing the suite, though, and it’s nothing got to do with the heatwave.