Ahoy oh Ginger type God! I feel so good today. Last night, I fulfilled one of my life ambitions. That ambition was to see John Williams conduct his own film music. This however, was just the sprinkels on the donut. The fact that he was conduction the London Symphony Orchestra made it all the more glorious and exciting!
So, I got to the Barbican (got a bit lost at first) but soon found my way to the Hall. The setting was perfect. I got me programme before going in.
I entered that hall, whoaaaaaa, my seat was perfect, how can this get better? Pretty soon the whole place began to fill up (2000 seats, SOLD OUT!). The orchestra clambered up onto the stage as we applauded. Then, came the man himself....
He went straight into the first number. It was 'Sound the Bells', a wonderfull piece Williams composed with the Boston Pops for a Royal weading in Tokyo I believe, it was a great start and an unknown tune to me.
It all went into film music overdrive from here on, begining with excerpts from 'Far and Away'. This is not a film I care for much, but the score was great (C'mon. Name me a John William's score that is not). Following this came exceprts from 'Born on the 4th of July', another brilliant score and superbly done on the night!
In the build up to the climax of the first half, Willliams turned to the audience and gave a little speach on the process of scorring the Star Wars Trilogy (and oh so briefly mentioning the Prequels). And so came the 'Star Wars Suite', a wonderfull composition of the Asteroid Filed from The EMpire Strikes Back, this moved swiftly on into Luke and Leia's theme from Jedi and finally finished with the Throne Room tune that accompanies the end sequence of A New Hope!
The interval came, popped back out into the open, got myself a drink from the bar, and "my God, that's Danny Elfman!!!!!!!!!!". Well, that is what I said in my mind. Whast it? Sure looked like him, he was American too! Hmmmm, interesting.
Shuffled back into the hall to await the start of the second half which opened with a theme I love so, so much. 'The Devil's Dance' from The Witches of Eastwick (very Danny Elfman like actually). It was superb! Following this came excerpts from Close Encounters of The Third Kind. Now this was just, well I can't find the words to describe it, sorry. After CEOTTK came the theme to The Lost World. A great thumping tune I like very much, and brilliantly performed by the LSO (as was everything else). The mood changed somewhat after this, as the orchestra performed the theme from Sabrina which is a charming pievce of music.
And so, yikes how the itme had gone by, Williams turned to the audience again to give comments about the next and alas, final tune, of the evening. It was ET, the last 10 minutes of the score that accompany the bike chase, Elliot saying goodbye to the little brown dudem and ET returning hom in his ship. This was a glorious finish to the whole night, absolutely superb!!!!!
Then came the standing ovation! I didn't stop clapping for, oooh, at least 8 minutes. The whole evening was a triumph!
It was not over though, obviously, he rturned back onto the stage and played out and Encore. This began with a tune from the film Sleepers. I've not seen the film, and not heard the score, but I liked it. I liked it a lot. Next came the tune that finally, of all the tunes of the night, as powerfull as they were, made the odd tear run down my face. It was the theme from Schindlers List which I just can not find the words to describe at all. The young lass on lead violin (a remarkable look alike of Neve Campbell may I add) was stunning on this, and every other tune in the nights performace.
Another standing ovation came, we sat down again as the orchestra played out the final tune of the evening, the full extended version (that includes Marion's theme) of 'The Raiders March' from, what else, but Raiders of the lost Ark.
I'll never forget this night Harry. You apreciate this man's music in the films, you apreciate it more when you buy the score but you respect this man, for what he is and what he does 110% when you see (and hear) him conduct it live! Never pass up the opportunity to see something like this, it's something that'll stick in the memory forever if you know what's good for you.
I am now convinced John Williams is God, I know it may sound like a slight over-rection, but still, it's how I feel. :-) He has the beard and everything!
I'd see him again, any day, and I hope to do so again too. The man is a genius! Respect to da man (who's hand I also got to shake at the end). It was a shame he didn't do Superman, or do the 'Imperial March' in the Star Wars Suite but ahhh hell, why should I complain eh? I have no right to.
On my way out I slowly got back the breath the performance took away. Saw that Danny Elfman look alike again too. I'd love to see him do something like this! Heck, I have a list of composers I'd love to see perform in the way Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra perfomed last night. SUPERB!
