John Williams & Anne-Sophie Mutter with The Chicago Symphony Orchestra. October 22nd 2024

[SyncMan 376]

Location: Symphony Center. Chicago, IL

Time: 7:30pm

Quote

The great John Williams conducts a selection of his iconic film scores and the first CSO performance of his magnificent Violin Concerto No. 2, featuring Anne-Sophie Mutter. Composed for Mutter in 2021, the concerto is “a hugely expressive, deeply atmospheric four-movement work,” writes BBC Music Magazine, in which “Mutter‘s singing, lilting, bluesy, scampering violin hungrily eats up the notes.”

https://cso.org/performances/24-25/cso-featured-concerts/williams-mutter-cso/

[Jay 42,358]

Cool!

[Meredith McKay 7,843]

Subscription only damn...

[Miszka 51]

Nice, still no news of Vienna though...

[rpvee 933]

Interesting that they haven’t listed a co-conductor!

[BB-8 4,960]

ASM must have sent more cookies than Yo-Yo (and Ax).

[GerateWohl 5,918]

I wonder, if this Violin Concerto No. 2 will ever be performed by anyone else than ASM.

As this was kind of a personal gift, probably no other performer will be interested in this one. 

If you wanna play a Williams violin concerto, you can play no. 1.

No. 2 is probably just ASM's.

[Jurassic Shark 14,945]

She will send poisonous cookies to those who try. 

[Davis 3,949]

1 hour ago, GerateWohl said:

I wonder, if this Violin Concerto No. 2 will ever be performed by anyone else than ASM.

Not while she’s alive.

[BB-8 4,960]

Basically, she is preventing him of getting on with the piano concerto.

[Davis 3,949]

5 hours ago, BB-8 said:

ASM must have sent more cookies than Yo-Yo (and Ax).

I sent him the biggest Sacher-Torte from Hotel Sacher in 2019. Then he had it again in 2020 when he had lunch at the Hotel Sacher with ASM. But I sent one to him first.

[BB-8 4,960]

Wasn't it Hotel Imperial in 2020 and 2022?

[Tom 5,591]

5 hours ago, GerateWohl said:

I wonder, if this Violin Concerto No. 2 will ever be performed by anyone else than ASM.

As this was kind of a personal gift, probably no other performer will be interested in this one. 

If you wanna play a Williams violin concerto, you can play no. 1.

No. 2 is probably just ASM's.

Violin Concerto No. 2: "The Mutter"   

[BB-8 4,960]

The Adventures of Mutter

[Davis 3,949]

3 hours ago, BB-8 said:

Wasn't it Hotel Imperial in 2020 and 2022?

Yes he stayed at Hotel Imperial, but ASM took him to Hotel Sacher for lunch or dinner and they had a Sacher-Torte. 

[BB-8 4,960]

I thought the Sacher-Torte was delivered to the Imperial where they also offer excellent Wiener...

[mrbellamy 7,278]

7 hours ago, JTW said:

Not while she’s alive.

 

Definitely not while they're both alive

[Marian Schedenig 10,123]

12 hours ago, BB-8 said:

Wasn't it Hotel Imperial in 2020 and 2022?

 

According to most reports I've heard, the actual original Sachertorte isn't all that good anyway.

[Jurassic Shark 14,945]

It's full of flubs and timing issues. 

[Smeltington 1,751]

2 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

 

According to most reports I've heard, the actual original Sachertorte isn't all that good anyway.

 

Which one should I try instead?

[Davis 3,949]

8 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

According to most reports I've heard

The reports are wrong. I’ve had Sacher-Torte many times, it’s delicious. You should try it, then judge for yourself.

 

 

5 hours ago, Smeltington said:

 

Which one should I try instead?

The Imperial-Torte is great as well. 

[Marian Schedenig 10,123]

10 hours ago, Smeltington said:

Which one should I try instead?

 

My sister's, for example. :-p It's not the chocolate concept itself that's bad, but I've heard multiple times that the specific original Sacher recipe is rather dry and boring. Of course, I live in a country where you get all kinds of Torten, so the original Sacher version may be more impressive for people who haven't been exposed to so many of them. Or maybe the reports are simply wrong. I've had my share of Sachertorten all over Austria over the years, and they usually are ok but not outstanding, but I've never personally tried the original.

 

Anyway, in my personal baking experience, if you don't put 160 proof rum in your cake dough, you're doing it wrong.

[GerateWohl 5,918]

ASM comes from the homeland of Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, the Black Forrest. 

 

Much better, if it is well made.

[BB-8 4,960]

21 hours ago, BB-8 said:

I thought the Sacher-Torte was delivered to the Imperial where they also offer excellent Wiener...

Sorry, Frankfurter.

[Thor 9,308]

Enough with the cakes.

[Tom 5,591]

I see that you neither want to have your cake nor eat it too.  

[BB-8 4,960]

Which cake can he expect to be getting in Chicago?

[Marian Schedenig 10,123]

7 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

Which cake can he expect to be getting in Chicago?

 

A lead cake.

[Smeltington 1,751]

10 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

My sister's, for example. :-p It's not the chocolate concept itself that's bad, but I've heard multiple times that the specific original Sacher recipe is rather dry and boring.

 

Well, unless your sister wants to celebrate my visit to Vienna by making me a sachertorte, I'll have to start with the original and go from there! Ignorance will be bliss.

 

15 hours ago, JTN said:

The Imperial-Torte is great as well. 

 

And do I need to avoid the Cafe Imperial for this one? 

[Davis 3,949]

8 hours ago, Smeltington said:

And do I need to avoid the Cafe Imperial for this one? 

I bought one in the hotel’s gift shop. 

 

[JWScores 73]

23 hours ago, BB-8 said:

Which cake can he expect to be getting in Chicago?

 

The Chicake.

[Doug Adams 529]

On 29/2/2024 at 2:15 AM, GerateWohl said:

I wonder, if this Violin Concerto No. 2 will ever be performed by anyone else than ASM.

As this was kind of a personal gift, probably no other performer will be interested in this one. 

If you wanna play a Williams violin concerto, you can play no. 1.

No. 2 is probably just ASM's.

Generally when a piece such as this is commissioned for a particular performer, that performer is the only artist allowed to play the piece in public for a certain amount of time. I don’t know that that’s the case here, but it very well could be. 
 

At any rate, I’ll be at the Chicago concert. If anyone here attends, come say hi! 

[Sarah SJ 1]

Hi everyone.
I'm new on this site. I'm from Denmark and have been a fan for most of my life. My dream is to see and hear mr. John Williams live in a concert, and am currently looking for a performance to buy tickets to.
Does anyone know how to become a "Curated series subscriber" as it says on the concert details? Is it even possible?

[Tom 5,591]

I would suggest going to a BPO Tanglewood concert.  Tickets are much easier to get for them.  

[Jay 42,358]

22 minutes ago, Concert Attendee said:

Conductor Ken-David Masur to step in for John Williams

Due to a recent health concern, from which he is expected to make a full recovery, John Williams is unable to conduct the concert with Anne-Sophie Mutter at Symphony Center on October 22, 2024. At Mr. Williams’ request, Maestro Ken-David Masur has graciously agreed to conduct the concert.

[Tom 5,591]

Did any JWfans attend?  

[Doug Adams 529]

I did.

[Tom 5,591]

How was it?  

[jaddwooka 10]

I was there also with some awesome seats right behind the brass.  Show was awesome even with Maestro Williams absent.  

 

SETLIST:

Sound the Bells!

Violin Concerto No. 2 (written for Anne-Sophie Mutter)

Encore:  Across the Stars from Attack of the Clones (Special Anne-Sophie Mutter version)

Intermission

Flight to Neverland from Hook

Excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

The Dual from The Adventures of Tintin (Special Anne-Sophie Mutter version)

Nice to Be Around from Cinderella Liberty (Special Anne-Sophie Mutter version)

Hedwig's Theme from Harry Potter (Special Anne-Sophie Mutter version)

Throne Room & End Title from Star Wars: Episode IV

Encore:  Helena's Theme from Indiana Jones 5 (Special Anne-Sophie Mutter version)

Encore:  Flying Theme from E.T. the Extra Terrestrial

Encore:  Imperial March from Star Wars: Episode V

 

I snuck a few pictures during the ovations and finale.  It was neat to be able to see the music and know the encores before they started.  We couldn't see the tuba and trombones very well without leaning forward over the railing but they sounded awesome!  I would pick those seats every time.   It felt like we were sitting in the orchestra.  

[Toillion 386]

There appears to be a lot of empty seats. That many backed out with JW not being there?

[Marian Schedenig 10,123]

So ASM took the mike in JW's absence?

 

59 minutes ago, Toillion said:

There appears to be a lot of empty seats.

 

I see some empty seats, not a lot.

[jaddwooka 10]

Yes, she spoke twice.  First time without the mic and I could barely hear her.  It was quick and I believe she talked about how her and JW created about 20 special versions of his film music for her to play.  Then, they proceeded with Across the Stars.  Then, in the second half, she talked about being a fan as a youngster, how she met JW about 10 years ago and how she eventually baked him cookies and their relationship grew.   I assume it was mostly well known stuff about her relationship with JW.  

 

As to the seats, I would say there were a few empty seats but mostly full.  Probably 95%.  I do believe there were a few people that jumped ship before the last encore.  For sure, at least one couple a row behind us in the terrace left half way through the second half.  Tuesday night, missing JW, work, life and all the things that get in the way, understood.  However, personally, I would not ever miss a nearby show like this and have traveled afar to see JW.  With him missing, maybe it wasn't quite as worth it to attend for the more casual concert attendee.  I remember him here in March 2023 and for sure, that was 100% full, NO empty seats.

[BB-8 4,960]

I can see microphones.

[bollemanneke 3,999]

Oh please let them not butcher this concert before Vienna 2.

[Tom 5,591]

48 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

I can see microphones.

With the naked eye?