John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl: Full program, Reviews, Videos

“JOHN WILLIAMS: MAESTRO OF THE MOVIES: 40th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION”
August 31, Sep. 1 & 2, 2018, Hollywood Bowl, CA
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets conducted by JOHN WILLIAMS and David Newman
STEVEN SPIELBERG, Special Guest

CONCERT PROGRAM

David Newman conducting

  • Olympic Fanfare and Theme (with film)
  • The Cave Sequence from Raiders of the Lost Ark (with film)
  • A New Beginning from Minority Report
  • Flight to Neverland from Hook (with film)
  • Celebrating the Bernstein Centennial
    • To Lenny! To Lenny!
    • Overture from West Side Story (with film)
    • Suite from On the Waterfront

INTERMISSION

John Williams conducting

  • The Raiders March from Raiders of the Lost Ark
  • With Malice Toward None from Lincoln
  • The Circus Train Chase from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (with film)
  • The Duel from The Adventures of Tintin (with film)
  • Theme from Schindler’s List
  • Finale from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (with film)

ENCORES

  • The Rebellion is Reborn from The Last Jedi
  • Main Title from Star Wars
  • The Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back

REVIEWS

EXTERNAL REVIEWS

  • Variety – “I can direct bicycles to fly, but music truly makes them airborne,” Steven Spielberg told the 17,000-plus in attendance at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday night. The revered director was on hand to applaud composer John Williams on his 40th anniversary of conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the last of three Labor Day concerts to take place at the venerable venue.
    Introducing Williams as maestro to the entire 15-minute finale of “E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial” live to picture, Spielberg noted: “John’s music directs all the traffic of our emotions. So when a staggering performance fills our eyes with tears, the appropriate score can make them fall. That’s what fills us with wonder… and that’s where E.T. got his soul.”
    Williams also addressed the audience briefly, telling the story of his first experience playing piano at the Bowl in 1958-59 (“Sixty years ago, I was 12 years old,” cracked the 86-year-old to laughter from the crowd) and how one-time Philharmonic executive director Ernest Fleischmann talked him into conducting at the Bowl in 1978. Said Williams: “This was enough of a scary invitation, and a flattering one, that I accepted, to my lasting joy and pleasure.” – Full review

 

  • Daps Magic – Spielberg shared a bit about the history of filmmaking and the importance of music to it. Throughout the second half of the program, Spielberg continued to share anecdotes about the music, John Williams, and the films they made together. The stories and thoughts added quite a bit of depth to the music that was being performed. There was also something quite powerful seeing these two men who were such close friends and collaborators share the stage. Spielberg made it very clear that his collaboration with Williams was crucial to the success of their movies. The mutual admiration and love were readily apparent and wonderful to watch. – Full review

VIDEOS

Olympic Fanfare and Theme

The Cave Sequence from Raiders of the Lost Ark

Flight to Neverland from Hook

The Raiders March from Raiders of the Lost Ark

Spielberg intro & With Malice Toward None from Lincoln

The Duel from The Adventures of Tintin 

Finale from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

The Rebellion is Reborn from The Last Jedi

Main Title from Star Wars

The Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back

 PHOTOS & TWEETS

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