Today is John Williams’ 85th birthday. Happy birthday, Maestro!
PRESS RELEASE:
Boston Pops Announce Details of 2017 Season Including Season-Long Tribute to John Williams
KEITH LOCKHART AND BOSTON POPS ANNOUNCE 2017 SPRING SEASON, MAY 10-JUNE 17, HIGHLIGHTED BY THE FIRST-EVER SEASON-LONG TRIBUTE TO THE FILM MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS;
TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, AT WWW.BOSTONPOPS.ORG AND 888-266-1200
TO VIEW 2017 BOSTON POPS LISTING CLICK HERE
AS PART OF SEASON-LONG CELEBRATION OF JOHN WILLIAMS’ UNPARALLELED CAREER, BOSTON POPS AND KEITH LOCKHART TO RECORD NEW LIVE ALBUM OF JOHN WILLIAMS MUSIC DURING TWO PRE-SEASON CONCERTS (4/7 & 4/8) TO BE RELEASED IN TIME FOR OPENING NIGHT OF SPRING POPS SEASON
FREE BOSTON POPS MUSIC STREAM, AVAILABLE AT WWW.BOSTONPOPS.ORG/STREAM, TO BE DEDICATED TO THE MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
he 2017 Boston Pops spring season, May 10-June 17, under the direction of Keith Lockhart, will present the first-ever season-long tribute to John Williams‘ film music, honoring Mr. Williams’ 37-year association with the Boston Pops and his incredible stature as one of the world’s most beloved and prolific composers, and in celebration of his 85th birthday year. The Boston Pops 2017 season will devote 11 concerts to music from each of Mr. Williams’s six decades as a film composer, including excerpts from such classic films scores as Raiders of the Lost Ark and Harry Potter and the composer’s more recent works including Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens; audiences will also have a special opportunity to hear less familiar music by Mr. Williams, including themes from such classic scores as Goodbye, Mr. Chips; The Towering Inferno; and Sabrina. In addition, John Williams will make two special appearances for Film Night (5/31 and 6/1), and the orchestra and Keith Lockhart will present two film presentations with live orchestra accompaniment: E.T. (The Extraterrestrial) (5/12 & 13) and Jaws (5/25 & 26)—both iconic films for which Mr. Williams composed the scores.
Today’s announcement takes place on Mr. Williams’ actual 85th birthday—Wednesday, February 8—to put a special spotlight on this cherished figure of the Boston Pops and of music and film lovers from across the country and around the globe. Mr. Williams held the position of Boston Pops Conductor from 1980 to 1993; he is currently Boston Pops Conductor Laureate. Tickets to the 2017 Boston Pops season will go on sale on Monday, February 13 at 10 a.m., at 888-266-1200 or www.bostonpops.org.
QUOTE FROM JOHN WILLIAMS, GEORGE AND ROBERTA BERRY BOSTON POPS CONDUCTOR LAUREATE
“I first conducted the Boston Pops Orchestra in 1978, and my respect and admiration for the orchestra and its members has only increased in the many years since. And so I’m especially honored by Keith Lockhart’s and the orchestra’s wish to dedicate their spring season to much of my music, and to create a special new recording of music that I composed over the past six decades. I’m also delighted to be returning to the Pops podium in May for our annual Film Night concerts, as they are always wonderful opportunities to reconnect with the musicians and audiences that I treasure so much. My fondest hope is that this new season will bring great joy to all those who attend, and I feel greatly privileged to be a continuing part of it.”
E.T. In Concert
Keith Lockhart, conductor
Friday, May 12, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 13, 3 p.m. & 8 p.m.
As part of the Boston Pops’ season-long celebration of John Williams’ 85th birthday in February 2017, Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops unleash the magic of Steven Spielberg’s great family adventure, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial in the film’s 35th anniversary year on May 12 and 13. The Pops will perform the full Academy Award®-winning score to this best picture nominee while the movie plays above the stage at Symphony Hall. The 3 p.m. family matinee on Saturday, May 13, offers 50 percent off tickets for children aged 17 and younger. Boston Pops Films in Concert Series support provided by the George and Roberta Berry Supporting Organization.
Lights! Camera! Music! The Magic of John Williams
Keith Lockhart, conductor
Tuesday, May 16, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 24, 8 p.m.
On May 16 and 24, the Boston Pops will perform some of the most magical film scores by the orchestra’s Conductor Laureate John Williams, as part of a season-long celebration of the composer’s film works. Keith Lockhart leads the Pops in the unforgettable music to such classic films as Hook, Harry Potter, and E.T. The ExtraTerrestrial. Clips from these beloved films will be shown on a screen above the orchestra. The concert will also feature short excerpts from some of John Williams’ concert works, including a rendition of his Tuba Concerto, performed on bass trombone, by BSO and Boston Pops bass trombone James Markey.
JAWS in Concert
Keith Lockhart, conductor
Thursday, May 25, 8 p.m.
Friday, May 26, 8 p.m.
Continuing the season-long celebration of Boston Pops Conductor Laureate John Williams’ 85th Birthday (February 8, 2017), Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops will present the world premiere performance of JAWS in Concert, May 25 and 26, an opportunity to enjoy the Academy Award®-winning score of this classic summer movie blockbuster. The Boston Pops has been at the forefront of the popular new practice of performing film music alongside a screening of beloved Hollywood classics. The world premiere of JAWS in Concert follows in the vein of recent Boston Pops performances of “Back to the Future,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and “The Wizard of Oz,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” as well as the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s 2014 performance of “West Side Story.” Before each JAWS performance the Boston Pops will welcome scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to speak about the natural phenomenon of sharks along the Massachusetts coastline, the inspiration for the book and film. Boston Pops Films in Concert Series support provided by the George and Roberta Berry Supporting Organization.
John Williams’ Film Night
John Williams & Keith Lockhart, conductors
Wednesday, May 31 8 p.m.
Thursday, June 1, 8 p.m.
On May 31 and June 1, the one and only John Williams returns to the Pops stage to lead Film Night, one of the most treasured annual Pops traditions since 1997. Sure to be a highlight of the evening, Mr. Williams, who will share the evening’s conducting duties with Keith Lockhart, will lead the orchestra in some of his recent music such as excerpts from his new score to Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The concert will also feature some of the most memorable movie music and film clips of all time, including several iconic movie themes by Williams himself—the brilliant composer of such scores as Jaws, Star Wars, the Indiana Jones films, and the Harry Potter series. Learn more about the Boston Pops Conductor Laureate in this 60 Minutes clip, and this interview about the creation of the Star Wars music. For a stream on the Boston Pops website of the orchestra performing John Williams music, visit www.bso.org/mediacenter.
Happy Birthday, John Williams (Special Pre-Season Event)
Friday, April 7, 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 8, 8 p.m.
Two special pre-season concerts on April 7 and 8 initiate the spring season celebration of Boston Pops Conductor Laureate John Williams’ 85th birthday in 2017. These events will feature works from each of John’s six decades as a film composer and will be recorded for a CD release in the spring.The concerts offer an opportunity to be part of a historic recording at Symphony Hall of such classic films scores as E.T. The Extraterrestrial, the composer’s more recent works including The Terminal, and also Mr. Williams’ little known gems including Goodbye, Mr. Chips; The Towering Inferno; and Sabrina. These concerts will also feature John Williams’ beloved film scores to Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, The Patriot, and the Harry Potter and Indiana Jones series. Conductor Keith Lockhart will lead the Boston Pops for these concert recordings. The new recording will be available for purchase by the Opening Night of the Boston Pops season on Wednesday, May 10. John Williams fans should also keep an eye out for a social media contest offering a collection of the composer’s recordings this spring!
BOSTON POPS AT TANGLEWOOD AND ON THE CAPE
The Boston Pops will perform five times as part of the 2017 Tanglewood season, June 18-Labor Day Weekend, including the season’s inaugural concert on Sunday, June 18. Keith Lockhart will lead this Koussevitzky Shed concert featuring the full score of Boston Pops Conductor Laureate John Williams’ score to Jaws alongside a screening of the film. Mr. Lockhart and the Pops will also perform Sondheim on Sondheim on Saturday, July 8. The Boston Pops will next be featured alongside the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra during the annual Tanglewood on Parade concert on Tuesday, August 1. On August 19, the Pops will also welcome BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons to the podium to share conducting duties with John Williams for the annual John Williams’ Film Night at Tanglewood. Finally, Maestro Lockhart helps close the season by leading a performance of E.T. with Orchestra on Friday, August 25. The Boston Pops will also perform its annual concert fundraiser for the Nantucket Cottage Hospital on Saturday, August 12, as well as the annual “Pops by the Sea” concert in Hyannis on Sunday, August 13.
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