Note: This was the first draft of an unpublished article
Three days before the event, and two days before leaving for London, this was still to be titled ‘An Evening with John Williams”. Then, Williams was taken ill and had to cancel his appearance. I now don’t get to write that article. Perhaps I never will. Fortunately, conductor Dirk Brossé was able to step in at the last moment, taking over for Williams, leading to an evening of some of the finest film music to grace a concert hall.
The programme opened with the “Main Title” suite from Star Wars and I honestly cannot imagine anyone still left disappointed after the London Symphony Orchestra playing at their finest. Even though we all know the music, hearing it played live, by this orchestra, in this venue is an experience that can hardly be described. Following the loud and spectacular introduction, a lengthy suite of excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind highlighted Williams’s more suspenseful and calm writing. Following the nearly ten-minute piece, it was time for Harry Potter. The orchestra performed three pieces from the first two movies, followed by the End Titles from Dracula, one of Williams’s lesser known scores. Before the interval, there was still time for music from E.T., so naturally, the orchestra performed “Adventures on Earth”, a nearly eleven-minute suite that seemed to be over in the blink of an eye.
Following a short interval, Williams’s “Superman March” preceded a wonderful suite of music from The BFG, a score I absolutely adore and had never expected to find here. But there it was, a somewhat shortened version of “Sophie and the BFG”, performed live by the London Symphony Orchestra. I could not have been happier. Following up, the orchestra performed a fantastic suite of music from Jurassic Park, before it was time for Schindler’s List. To say the performance, in particular soloist Carmine Lauri, was flawless would be an understatement. Closing the concert were three pieces from Star Wars, a spectacular way to end this extraordinary event.
Only it didn’t end. Following a round of overwhelming applause, the “Shark Theme” from Jaws got a chance to shine in London’s Royal Albert Hall. Following “Yoda’s Theme”, a third and final encore simply had to be the “Raiders March”, and sure enough, one of Williams’s most iconic themes brought the evening to a close.
The announcement of Williams’s absence had left many disappointed, myself included. I had spent close to a year looking forward to it, telling everyone I met that I would be seeing the John Williams conduct, and now I didn’t. Now I may never get a chance to.
But after everything, I still could not have been happier with the weekend I got so spend in London, and being able to enjoy music I had known for a long time and music I had never heard before. It was still his music. Performed by an orchestra close to him, conducted by one of his friends. To say he was there in spirit would be an understatement. The incredible performance by the London Symphony Orchestra and the many heartfelt stories shared by both members of the orchestra and conductor Dirk Brossé made the evening a wonderful experience. One I’ll treasure, regardless of who was on the conductor’s podium.
From the programme:
Star Wars – “Main Title”
Close Encounters of the Third Kind – Excerpts
Harry Potter – “Hedwig’s Theme”, “Fawkes the Phoenix” and “Harry’s Wondrous World”
Dracula – “End Titles”
E.T. – “Adventures on Earth”
INTERVAL
Superman – “Superman March”
The BFG – “A Child’s Tale: Suite”
Jurassic Park – Main Theme
Schindler’s List – Main Theme
Star Wars – “The Imperial March”, “Han Solo and the Princess” and “Throne Room & Finale”
Jaws – “Shark Theme”
Star Wars – “Yoda’s Theme”
Raiders of the Lost Ark – “The Raiders March”
Leo Mayr 