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Artist: John Williams
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John Williams:

John Williams In Tokyo w/Saito Kinen Orchestra

30 years after his last visit to Japan, John Williams returned for two special concerts – one in Matsumoto and one in Tokyo – marking his debut with the world-famous Saito Kinen Orchestra, with selections from his beloved film scores, and reuniting with his longtime friend, world-renowned conductor Seiji Ozawa. The second of these concerts was captured live on record at Suntory Hall last year and the resulting recording, John Williams In Tokyo, is set to be released by Deutsche Grammophon on 3 May, following his acclaimed concert albums, The Berlin Concert and John Williams in Vienna, which topped charts around the globe. The first single, ‘Superman March’ is out now along with a music video of the performance. The digital album is available for pre-order from today, with details of the physical editions to follow – including a deluxe limited edition vinyl box set to include Williams’ recordings from Vienna, Berlin, Boston and Tokyo for release later in the year.

It was a long-held dream of Seiji Ozawa’s to see John Williams and the Saito Kinen Orchestra perform together in Japan, so the performances – and their reunion last year – held great meaning for both artists.  Months in the planning, the announcement of this live recording was originally scheduled for the week of John Williams’ birthday (8 February). However, following the news of Seiji Ozawa ‘s passing, it was decided to announce the recording today after close discussion with his family and management.

Williams was invited to Japan by his good friend Ozawa to conduct the Saito Kinen Orchestra – Ozawa’s “musical family” – so the realisation of the two concerts in Matsumoto and Tokyo was a landmark moment – not only for the pair, but for music fans around the world. Ozawa said of the occasion: “This special collaboration between them in Matsumoto and Tokyo was a joy that genuinely defies expression – my longstanding dream has finally come true!” The feeling was reciprocated by John Williams: “It was a joy to return to Japan after 30 years to visit my dear friend and longtime musical colleague Seiji Ozawa and to conduct his brilliant Saito Kinen Orchestra for the very first time.”

Williams was a close friend of Ozawa ever since the latter was Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and took part in the Tanglewood Music Festival in western Massachusetts. As Ozawa recounted in January of this year, “I've consistently encouraged John to experience the unique essence of the Saito Kinen Orchestra, confident that he would love it”. Ozawa was in Matsumoto to witness the concert and was delighted to be reunited with his friend.

John Williams:

The Fabelmans OMPS

Sony Music Masterworks today releases THE FABELMANS (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) by five-time Academy Award® winner JOHN WILLIAMS. Available everywhere now, the album features an original musical score composed by Williams for director Steven Spielberg’s deeply personal cinematic memory of the forces, and family, that shaped his life and career. The soundtrack marks the latest collaboration between Spielberg and Williams, whose longstanding creative partnership spans nearly 50 years and 30 films. From E.T., Jaws and Jurassic Park to Schindler’s List, Lincoln and Saving Private Ryan, Williams and Spielberg’s collaborations have produced some of the most iconic and well-recognized music in film history. The Fabelmans is available in select theaters now and will expand to theaters everywhere on November 23.

“The Fabelmans marks the 50th year of John reshaping my stories through his music – this time for the most personal film I have ever made,” STEVEN SPIELBERG says. “John knew my parents well and loved introducing them to the orchestra during our scoring sessions, which made my Dad so proud, and left my Mom beaming.?He wrote this score as a gift to them and, when he first previewed?it for me on his?Steinway, I knew he had made this his most personal gift to me as well. Thank you, Maestro.”

The score was deeply meaningful for Williams, too. “Composing the score for The Fabelmans was a particular joy for me, given the personal nature of the film and its depiction of characters who seem to be so closely associated with Steven Spielberg’s own childhood and family,” JOHN WILLIAMS says. “Over many years, I knew and greatly admired Steven’s parents, and I was always very impressed by his mother Leah’s musical talent. This is a truly special film, so lovingly directed by Steven and featuring a touching and very personal screenplay by Steven and the always-brilliant Tony Kushner. I’m honored to have played a small part in the making of this film.”

John Williams:

The Berlin Concert w/Berlin Philharmonic

Two legends shared the stage this autumn – in a glorious debut, John Williams conducted the Berliner Philharmoniker for the very first time. John Williams – The Berlin Concert, captured live by Deutsche Grammophon during a series of sold-out concerts, presents some of the world’s best-known film music performed by one of the world’s greatest orchestras. The DG album is set for release on 4 February 2022, in time for the renowned composer’s 90th birthday just four days later. “John Williams doesn’t need the films, the films need him,” wrote Rolling Stone after the concert, while Berlin’s Der Tagesspiegel summed up the event as simply “one of those great evenings”. Fans can catch a sneak preview of the concert on 2 January 2022, when it will be streamed in full on DG Stage.

This once-in-a-lifetime recording continues DG’s celebration of the work of the multi-award-winning composer. The label’s chart-topping John Williams in Vienna set the mark as the best-selling symphonic recording of 2020. John Williams – The Berlin Concert now complements that programme with a tracklist made up of additional repertoire and familiar favourites.

The album includes some works known to millions worldwide, and others, such as the Suite from Far and Away and the moving Elegy for cello and orchestra, that may be less familiar but are no less brilliant. Maestro Williams briefly introduced many of the pieces, adding to the sense of occasion and expressing his joy at working with the mighty Berliner Philharmoniker. “For any musician to be standing in front of this orchestra, and to be here with you for these few moments, is truly a great honour and a privilege,” he confided to the players before giving the first downbeat. The feeling was clearly mutual.

John Williams:

John Williams in Vienna w/Vienna Philharmonic

John Williams has just added to an already incredibly long list of achievements by making his conducting debut with the Wiener Philharmoniker. Their two concerts at Vienna's Musikverein on January 18 & 19, 2020 – which were also the first performances he had ever conducted in continental Europe – were produced by Deutsche Grammophon in partnership with the Wiener Philharmoniker and ServusTV and filmed by Bernhard Fleischer Moving Images (BFMI). John Williams in Vienna is now set for international release by the Yellow Label on August 14, 2020 and will be available on all relevant physical and digital mediums, including Blu-ray, CD, vinyl and eVideo, in both stereo and Dolby Atmos surround mixes. The film will be broadcast in Germany, Austria and Switzerland by ServusTV on Whit Monday June 1, 2020.

John Williams:

Revenge of the Sith Soundtrack

Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith includes 70 Minute Bonus, Collecter's DVD which takes Viewers On A Musical And Visual Journey Through All Six Films From The Most Popular Movie Saga Of All Time And Features The Music Of Five-Time Oscar Winner John Williams.
 

John Williams:

A Life in Music

A Life in Music celebrates the London Symphony Orchestra's collaboration with John Williams that spans over 40 years, going back to Star Wars in 1977. Out May 4 (International Star Wars Day), this release features Williams's most iconic film scores, including the LSO's first ever recording of "Hedwig's Theme" from Harry Potter as well as a world premiere recording of the Theme from Schindler's List for solo cello.

John Williams:

The Post - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Sony Classical proudly announces the release of THE POST (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), featuring music by multi-award-winning composer John Williams. The soundtrack is compainon to this Steven Spielberg film. Starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in a thrilling drama about the unlikely partnership between The Washington Post's Katharine Graham (Streep), the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, and editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks), as they race to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spanned three decades and four U.S. Presidents.