Deutsche Grammophon has announced John Williams: In Concert, a unique collection of the label’s recordings with the Hollywood icon. The album brings together performances of film music from the Berliner Philharmoniker, Saito Kinen Orchestra and Wiener Philharmoniker, as well as the world premiere recording of Williams’s Second Violin Concerto, with soloist Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The record is being released as a 7-LP vinyl (180-gram) boxset in butterfly fan packaging and is now available to order on Amazon. In addition, the label has also announced a 12-inch picture disc vinyl, cut in the shape of the iconic Darth Vader’s helmet, featuring four different recordings of John Williams’ Imperial March from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, including the premiere release of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s version of the track, which is also available as a digital single in most international markets.
Tag: John Williams
‘Music by John Williams’ Documentary Trailer Released
Disney+ has released the trailer for the documentary Music by John Williams. The film directed by Laurent Bouzereau centers on the life and career of the legendary Academy Award-winning composer and features interviews with Steven Spielberg, Gustavo Dudamel, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Kate Capshaw, J.J. Abrams, Ron Howard, Chris Columbus, Lawrence Kasdan, James Mangold, Chris Martin, George Lucas, Seth MacFarlane, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Ke Huy Quan, Alan Silvestri, David Newman, Thomas Newman, Anne-Sophie Mutter & Branford Marsalis whose lives have been touched by Williams’ timeless music. Check out the trailer after the jump.
‘Music by John Williams’ Documentary to Debut at AFI Fest Before Premiering on Disney+
AFI announced today that the documentary Music by John Williams will open the 38th AFI Fest in Hollywood on October 23, 2024.The film directed by Laurent Bouzereau chronicles the prolific life and career of the legendary Academy Award-winning composer. The movie features interviews with directors Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Ron Howard, Chris Columbus, J.J. Abrams,, James Mangold, Lawrence Kasdan, producers Kathleen Kennedy & Frank Marshall, composers Alan Silvestri, David Newman, Thomas Newman, musicians Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Branford Marsalis, among others.
‘The Sugarland Express’ World Premiere Soundtrack Release Announced
La-La Land Records has announced the world premiere soundtrack release for the 1974 crime drama The Sugarland Express directed by Steven Spielberg (who made his theatrical feature directorial debut on the project) and starring Goldie Hawn, Ben Johnson, William Atherton and Michael Sacks. The album, which is being released released as part of the Universal Studios Film Music Classics Collection, features the film’s original music composed and conducted by Academy Award winner John Williams (Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Jaws, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Schindler’s List, Catch Me If You Can, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone). The CD, which is limited to 5,000 copies, is now available to order on the label’s official website, where you can also check out audio samples and find out more about the release. A vinyl edition is also in the works.
‘John Williams: Reimagined’ Album to Be Released
Warner Classics will release John Williams: Reimagined, a new album featuring music by the Academy Award-winning composer arranged for chamber trio of flute, cello, and piano. The 2-CD set is produced by Robert Townson and the music is performed by flutist Sara Andon, cellist Cécilia Tsan, and pianist Simone Pedroni. The album covers Williams’ career from his early Emmy Award-winning score for the 1970 television film Jane Eyre to the main theme of 2022’s The Fabelmans, and includes such titles as Star Wars, Schindler’s List, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Jurassic Park, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Hook, The Accidental Tourist, The Witches of Eastwick, Dracula, The Sugarland Express, The Patriot and War Horse. A first track (Over the Moon from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial) has just been released today and is now available to stream/download now on all major digital music services and can also be checked out after the jump.
John Williams in Tokyo Concert Album Announced
Deutsche Grammophon has announced the concert album John Williams in Tokyo. The album features the the live recordings (performed by the Saito Kinen Orchestra) of the Hollywood legend’s 2023 concert at Suntory Hall in Tokyo, where he reunited with conductor Seiji Ozawa. Among the titles features on the release are Superman, Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back & The Last Jedi, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone & Chamber of Secrets, Schindler’s List and Raiders of the Lost Ark. The record will be released digitally on May 3, 2024 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. A first track (Superman March) is already available to stream/download now. Also check out the music video of the performance after the jump.
Remastered and Expanded Edition of John Williams’ ‘Heidi’ & ‘Jane Eyre’ Scores Announced
Quartet Records has announced a new soundtrack album featuring two early television scores composed by Academy Award winner John Williams (Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, Jaws, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) who received his first two Emmy Awards for the projects. The album features the composer’s remastered and slightly expanded original music from the 1968 NBC movie Heidi based on the classic novel by Johanna Spyri, directed by Delbert Mann and starring Maximilian Schell, Jean Simmons, Michael Redgrave, Jennifer Edwards and Walter Slezak, as well as a remastered edition of his score from the 1970 TV movie Jane Eyre based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel, directed by Mann and starring George C. Scott and Susannah York.
‘Hook’ The Ultimate Edition Soundtrack Album Announced
La-La Land Records has announced a new soundtrack album for the 1991 fantasy adventure Hook directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Maggie Smith, Bob Hoskins and Charlie Korsmo. The Ultimate Edition features the film’s original music composed and conducted by Academy Award winner John Williams (Star Wars, Jaws, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, Catch Me If You Can, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Schindler’s List), including previously previously unreleased score tracks, alternate cues, songs and source music. The 3-CD set, which is limited to 5,000 copies, is now available to order on La-La Land’s official website, where you can learn more about the release and check out audio samples.
Indiana Jones: The Collection Box Set Announced
Walt Disney Records has announced Indiana Jones: The Complete Collection Box Set, a new limited edition 5-CD set, which includes every score from Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones film series: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and this year’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Academy Award winner John Williams (Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Jaws, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) has composed the scores for all five titles. The box set will be released in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order on Disney Music Emporium’s website.
‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ Deluxe Edition Soundtrack 2-CD Release Announced
Intrada Records has announced a CD release of the deluxe edition soundtrack album for the Lucasfilm’s 2018 feature Solo: A Star Wars Story directed by Ron Howard and starring Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Thandiwe Newton and Paul Bettany. The album features the film’s original score composed by John Powell (How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek, The Bourne Identity, Happy Feet, Don’t Worry Darling, X-Men: The Last Stand). John Williams has provided the Han Solo theme. The 2-CD set is now available to order on the label’s official website, where you can also check out audio samples and find out more about the release.