PRESS RELEASE:<\/p>\n
John Williams Composes Theme Music for THIRTEEN’s Great Performances in Unique Collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\n NEW YORK – (Business Wire) WNET.ORG, New York\u2019s public media provider, teams up with leading American composer John Williams to score new theme music for THIRTEEN\u2019s award-winning performing arts series\u00a0Great Performances<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n Williams\u2019 composition will premiere during the opening credits of\u00a0Great Performances: King Lear<\/strong><\/em>, starring Ian McKellen,\u00a0Wednesday, March 25 at 8 p.m.\u00a0(ET) on PBS (check local listings). Williams, a five-time Academy Award-winner, who most recently scored the music for President Obama\u2019s inauguration, is best known for composing the soundtrack to some of Hollywood\u2019s biggest box-office hits includingJaws, Star Wars, Harry Potter\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Schindler\u2019s List<\/em>, among many others. Williams appeared on PBS\u2019s\u00a0Evening at Pops<\/em>while the principal conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra from 1980 to 1993. In 2003, Williams\u2019 \u201cSoundings\u201d was premiered in\u00a0Great Performances<\/strong><\/em>\u2019 opening night telecast from Walt Disney Concert Hall.<\/p>\n Great Performances<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0is funded by the Irene Diamond Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, Vivian Milstein, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, public television viewers, and PBS. Major funding is also provided by The Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Arts Fund and the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust.<\/p>\n Visit Great Performances Online at\u00a0pbs.org\/gperf<\/a>\u00a0for additional information about this and other programs. Bill O\u2019Donnell is Series Producer for Great Performances. David Horn is Executive Producer.<\/p>\n About WNET.ORG<\/strong><\/p>\n New York public media company WNET.ORG is a pioneering provider of television and web content. The parent of Thirteen, WLIW21 and Creative News Group, WNET.ORG brings such acclaimed broadcast series and websites asWorldfocus<\/a>,\u00a0Nature<\/a>,\u00a0Great Performances<\/a>,\u00a0American Masters<\/a>,\u00a0Charlie Rose<\/a>,\u00a0Wide Angle<\/a>,\u00a0Secrets of the Dead<\/a>,\u00a0Religion & Ethics Newsweekly<\/a>,\u00a0Visions<\/a>,\u00a0Consuelo Mack WealthTrack<\/a>,\u00a0Wild Chronicles,<\/a>\u00a0Miffy and Friends<\/a>, and\u00a0Cyberchase<\/a>\u00a0to national and international audiences. Through its wide range of channels and platforms, WNET.ORG serves the entire New York City metro area with unique local productions, broadcasts and innovative educational and cultural projects. In all that it does, WNET.ORG pursues a single, overarching goal \u2013 to create media experiences of lasting significance for New York, America and the world. For more information, visitwww.wnet.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n WNET.ORG PRESS RELEASE: John Williams Composes Theme Music for THIRTEEN’s Great Performances in Unique Collaboration NEW YORK – (Business Wire) WNET.ORG, New York\u2019s public media provider, teams up with leading American composer John Williams to score new theme music for THIRTEEN\u2019s…<\/p>\n
\nThis is the first time Williams has created a composition for a THIRTEEN production. David Horn, executive producer of THIRTEEN\u2019s\u00a0Great Performances<\/strong><\/em>,\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>approached Williams about composing a new theme as the crowning element for the series\u2019 new on-air look. \u201cAfter 36 years of showcasing the best in the performing arts for American audiences, we wanted to reinvigorate our\u00a0Great Performances<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0broadcast identity for today\u2019s digital HD generation,\u201d said executive producer David Horn. \u201cAs one of America\u2019s master composers with an unmistakable musical signature, John Williams is his own brand name for excellence and innovation. When the opportunity came up to create a new opening to the series, John was automatically our first choice \u2013 we didn\u2019t think twice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nGloria Park, 212-560-2063
\nparkg@wnet.org<\/a>
\nor
\nDonald Lee, 212-560-3005
\nleed@wnet.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"