The summer season at the Hollywood Bowl begins to wind down right around Labor Day and that can only mean one thing: it’s time for the annual celebration of the music of film composer John Williams. Maestro of the Movies: The Music of John Williams will be performed Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Hollywood Bowl.
As you probably know, Williams no longer conducts the full concerts. David Newman, also a film composer and conductor, will lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic for these performances (as he has done in previous years). Williams is listed as “host.” Whether he will pick up the baton late in the concert for the moment that triggers all the light sabres in the audience remains to be seen.
There will be a greater usage of film clips for these concerts than has previously been employed for the Williams weekend.
Opening this concert will be the Williams arrangement of the song Hooray for Hollywood. The Philharmonic performed this piece at Gustavo Dudamel’s 10th anniversary concert earlier this season.
Music from Jane Eyre, The Cowboys and The Empire Strikes Back (yes, you can use your light sabres in the first half this year) follow. The 20th Century Fox Fanfare, music from How the West Was Won (both written by David Newman’s father Alfred) and the Carousel Waltz from the film version of Carousel by Richard Rodgers closes out the first half.
Some trivia for you: Alfred Newman was the conductor and music supervisor for Carousel. John Williams was an uncredited “additional orchestrator” for the film.
Onto the second half where the films of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg dominate.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens the program. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial follows. The program continues with music from Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan and Amistad.
Then it’s back to your light sabres with music from Solo: A Star Wars Story, Return of the Jedi and the granddaddy of them all Star Wars.
Note that the Friday and Saturday night concerts begin at 8 PM. Sunday’s concert begins at 7:30 PM.
For tickets for Friday night go here.
For tickets for Saturday night go here.
For tickets for Sunday night go here.
Photo of John Williams conducting courtesy of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association