“AM EVENING WITH JOHN WILLIAMS”
Saturday, September 22, 2012, Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Eugene, OR
The Eugene Symphony Orchestra conducted by JOHN WILLIAMS
Bing Wang, violin
JOHN WILLIAMS INTERVIEW *NEW*
- Running up the score – John Williams brings his cinematic compositions to Eugene
Question: You have just finished “Lincoln.” What are you doing now? – Answer: From the point of view of film, I’m not certain what that will be. Several things are under discussion, a couple of them with Spielberg, which will be for next year. – Full interview at The Register-Guard
EXTERNAL REVIEW *NEW*
- Cue the violins: John Williams with the Eugene Symphony – Williams owned the audience at every turn. He could do no wrong. Enthusiastic music lovers shouted out “bravo” at the slightest provocation. Even the orchestra was smiling, at least when it wasn’t pounding out yet another crescendo. – Full review
JWFAN REVIEWS
Concert Review by TJH132 (original post)
John Williams bounded on stage looking ageless in his trim black suit and white hair and beard. Roars from the crowd and a quick standing ovation preceded the downbeat for the concert opener, “The Cowboys” Overture. The orchestra performed admirably throughout the piece, and the evening generally. The horns hit a couple clunkers at different points, but nothing to spoil the fun. Kudos especially for the principle flutist who really seemed to have a read on Williams’ work. Her playing was top-notch on every piece.
The program was rather conservative. Many of them are staples to even non-Williams-conducted film music nights. After “The Cowboys” came “Excerpts from Close Encounters,” a personal favorite, three pieces from “Harry Potter” (including the charming woodwinds-only “Nimbus 2000”), and “Adventures on Earth from E.T.”
Williams took to the microphone and spoke mid-way through the first half. He shed light on his reasons to come to Eugene: 1. He always wanted to see the city (and toured the campus earlier that day), 2. Los Angeles recording orchestra flutist who lives in Eugene urged him to give the orchestra a spin, and 3. His longtime music editor Ken Wannberg had retired to Oregon a few years ago (and was in attendance last night). Whatever the reasons, it’s nice to have him back in the Northwest. By my count, it’s been 23 years since Williams brought the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra to Portland.
Part two of the program kicked off with “Theme from Superman” and “Suite from Far and Away.” LA Philharmonic violinist Bing Wang then joined Williams on stage to perform two pieces arranged by Williams, “Tango from Scent of a Woman” and “Excerpts from Fiddler on the Roof.” Both pieces were nicely played by soloist and orchestra and the crowd seemed to love it all.
The last part of the concert featured a good rendition of three pieces from Star Wars: “Imperial March,” “Luke and Leia,” and “Main Title.” Williams left the stage and returned with Ms. Wang to give us a tender reading of “Theme from Schindler’s List” as the night’s first encore. After even more applause and ovations (and shouts from the crowd “We love you, Johnny!), we got a nice close out for the evening with “Raiders March.” John Williams accepted our appreciative applause and long standing ovation until giving the final “bedtime” gesture and quickly exiting the stage.
It was a winning evening all around and I’m sure something my young nieces will remember for the rest of their lives!
Concert photos by Chris Hammond
(click to enlarge)
