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WHEN:
NOV. 1-3, 2024
WHERE:
McAninch Arts Center (MAC)
Chicago
TICKETS:
For more information and tickets visit the New Philharmonic website.
A spokesperson describes the event as follows:
“...Under the direction of Maestro Kurk Muspratt, New Philharmonic takes a magical musical journey down an extraordinary cinematic memory lane with Williams’ most beloved pieces spanning his more than six-decade career. A free MAC Chat will begin one hour prior to each performance.
The program will feature the following:
• “Scherzo for X-Wings.” This is a concert piece and musical track composed by John Williams for the sequel trilogy film and fifth highest grossing film of all time, “Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens” (2015). The piece prominently features variations on the “Star Wars Main Title,” with a single use of "The Force Theme" towards the end.
• Theme from “Peter Gunn” by Henry Mancini. Williams played piano on the original recording for the hit private eye TV show back in 1958. It earned Mancini an Emmy Award nomination and two Grammys. Williams rerecorded it for a 2023 tribute album honoring famed composer Mancini.
• “The Cowboys” Overture. Williams provided the vivid score for this 1972 western starring John Wayne. It marked a departure from Williams’ usual musical style with its more restrained and traditional soundtrack.
• “Mission Theme” for NBC News (1985). When Williams was approached to write the NBC News suite, he was already well known for his work on “Star Wars and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” NBC engaged Williams to contrast with the synthesized music common for news programs at the time.
• Selection from “Sayuri’s Theme” from “Memoirs of a Geisha” (2005). Awards garnered by the score include Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, BAFTA Award for Best Film Music and the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.
• “Olympic Fanfare and Theme.” Williams debuted the work in a Boston Pops concert in June 12, 1984, then conducted the work at the opening ceremonies of the 23rd Olympiad at the Los Angeles Coliseum on July 28, 1984.
• “Jaws” (1975). Awards garnered for this score include Winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Score, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and Grammy Award for the Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. The American Film Institute named Williams’ composition the sixth greatest motion picture score of all time.
• “Jurassic Park” (1993). This American science fiction action film based on the book by bestselling novelist Michael Crichton was directed by Steven Spielberg. This blockbuster hit film went on to gross more than Spielberg's own “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” Williams felt he needed to write "pieces that would convey a sense of 'awe' and fascination," as the film dealt with the "overwhelming happiness and excitement" of seeing live dinosaurs.
• “Midway March” and “Men of the Yorktown” from “Midway” (1976). This WW II war film inspired by the historic starred battle of Midway starred Charlton Heston and Henry Fonda, plus a large international cast of guest stars including James Coburn, Glenn Ford, Ed Nelson, Hal Holbrook, Robert Webber, Toshiro Mifune, Robert Mitchum, Cliff Robertson, Robert Wagner, Pat Morita, Dabney Coleman, Erik Estrada and Tom Selleck. It was the 10th most popular film of 1976.
• Selection from “Adventures on Earth” from “E.T. The Extraterrestrial” (1982). Williams’ score for the film won the 1983 Academy Award for best original film score, as well as praise from director Steven Spielberg as “John Williams’ best work for the movies.” “Adventures on Earth” combines themes from the last part of the film, encompassing the iconic bicycle chase, the tearful goodbye, and the spaceship’s ascent into the night sky.
• Cantina Band and Throne Room/End Title from “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”(1977). The American Film Institute named this score the greatest of all time. In 1977, the score won the Academy Award for Best Original Score, Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, and the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music..."
