The Saito Kinen Orchestra - John Williams In Tokyo
The Saito Kinen Orchestra - John Williams In Tokyo
(Deutsche Grammophon, 2024)
There is everything to celebrate about John Williams In Tokyo. At 92 years old, Williams stands in the twilight of a seven decade career that can only be described as producing the most significant body of film music existing and likely to exist. The composer has received five Academy Awards for Best Score for Fiddler on the Roof (1971), Jaws (1975), Star Wars (1977), E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial (1982) and Schindler's List (1993) out of a staggering 54 nominations.
There are also the circumstances leading to this present release. Williams met the late international conductor Seiji Ozawa while Ozawa was Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the two took part in the Tanglewood Music Festival in western Massachusetts in the 1970s. It was Ozawa who encouraged him to conduct and invited him in 1979 to take up the baton with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Williams became music director of the Boston Pops Orchestra 1980–93, and is now its conductor laureate.
It had been 30 years since Williams had visited Japan when he returned at the invitation of Ozawa to conduct his famous Saito Kinen Orchestra in two concerts, one at Matsumoto and the second in Tokyo. These concerts took place in September 2023, following Williams Berlin, Boston, and Vienna concerts, all recorded and released by Deutsche Grammophon. The four concert recordings are to be collected and released in a deluxe box set, John William In Concert (Deutsche Grammophon, 2024)
In September 2023, the recording team captured the Matsumoto and Tokyo concerts with maestro Ozawa in attendance. The Matsumoto concert was captured at the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, a music festival founded and directed by Ozawa. The Tokyo show was recorded in the Suntory Hall in Tokyo and was part of the celebration of the 125th anniversary of Deutsche Grammophon Recordings.
The Tokyo concert included 11 selections from throughout Williams' long composing career, including the 'Superman March' (1978), 'Theme from Schindler's List' (1993), and 'The Raiders March' from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). It also represented Williams' Harry Potter scores well with "Hedwig's Theme" and "Harry's Wondrous World" from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), and "Fawkes the Phoenix" from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).
Williams highlighted the Star Wars franchise with, “The Rebellion is Reborn” (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, 1983), “Princess Leia’s Theme” and “Throne Room & Finale” (Star Wars: A New Hope, 1977), “Yoda’s Theme” and “The Imperial March” (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, 1980).
For both concerts, John Williams shared the podium with the noted conductor and friend, Stéphane Denève, the Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Denève conducted the final “Tributes (For Seiji),” a piece composed by Williams celebrating Ozawa’s 25th anniversary as Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
These are crisp, exacting performances Williams draws from Ozawa’s Saito Kinen Orchestra. While the program is familiar (how could in not be) it was not filled with main themes, rather made up of some of Williams’ most lyrical composing. John Williams In Tokyo is a crowning achievement for two beloved maestros in late autumn. Enchanting is what it is like to walk an Earth with the likes of Williams and Ozawa, sharing in their mutual respect and love for one another.
Thinking of Marcus Wayne Jordin.