Classic Ross Amico

Tag: John Williams

John Williams Out Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies

It’s been announced that John Williams will not be writing the music for Steven Spielberg’s upcoming Cold War thriller, “Bridge of Spies,” scheduled for release on October 18. This is perhaps not surprising, since Williams is committed to score the next “Star Wars” film, slated to open on December 18. The man is, after all, 83 years-old.

However, it is not his age, but rather an unspecified, apparently minor health setback that caused Williams to walk away from the Spielberg project. It is said that the issue is now “corrected.”

Thomas Newman will be stepping in to write the music. It will be only the second Spielberg feature not to be graced by one of Williams’ scores. (The other was “The Color Purple,” released in 1985.) Williams and Spielberg first worked together on “The Sugarland Express,” in 1974.

I confess that this is a personal disappointment, since I was looking forward to two fine film scores this year, which has become a rarity in the Age of Zimmer.

The last film scored by Williams was “The Book Thief,” in 2013. He plans to return for Spielberg’s next project, a film based on Roald Dahl’s novel, “The BFG,” projected for a July 1, 2016 release.

Read the news here:

http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/18/8243915/john-williams-not-scoring-spielberg-film

PHOTO: I think you recognize the players

March 19, 2015
Gloria Cheng Celebrates Film Composers on Piano

Not what I was planning to post today, but I’m pressed for time. This nifty photo of Gloria Cheng, John Williams, Randy Newman and Don Davis is a promotion for Cheng’s new album, “Montage: Great Film Composers and the Piano.”

Watch a clip (also featuring Alexandre Desplat) here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52WrNa51E-0

With a write-up at filmmusicsociety.org:

http://www.filmmusicsociety.org/news_events/features/2015/020915.html

February 25, 2015
Grammy’s Classical Music Surprise John Williams Wins

Classical music is so marginalized at the Grammy Awards, I don’t even bother watching. In fact, most years I don’t even pay attention to the nominees, except maybe, if I think of it, in the film score category.

Imagine my surprise when I scrolled through the list of winners this morning to find John Williams collected another statuette for his mantle (on his birthday, no less), for “Best Instrumental Composition,” for his score to “The Book Thief.” I can never quite grasp the timeline for the Grammys. “The Book Thief” was released in 2013.

Williams beat out Stanley Clarke (“Last Train to Sanity”), Gordon Goodwin (“Life in the Bubble”), Rufus Reid (“Recognition”) and Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile (“Tarnatian”).

Here are the other film and classical music winners:

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Frozen

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Song Written for Visual Media
“Let It Go”

Best Engineered Album, Classical
Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem; Symphony No. 4; The Lark Ascending

Classical Producer of the Year
Judith Sherman

Best Orchestral Performance
“Adams, John: City Noir,” David Robertson, conductor (St. Louis Symphony)

Best Opera Recording
“Charpentier: La Descente D’Orphée Aux Enfers,” Paul O’Dette & Stephen Stubbs, conductors; Aaron Sheehan; Renate Wolter-Seevers, producer (Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble; Boston Early Music Festival Vocal Ensemble)

Best Choral Performance
“The Sacred Spirit Of Russia,” Craig Hella Johnson, conductor (Conspirare)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
“In 27 Pieces — The Hilary Hahn Encores,” Hilary Hahn & Cory Smythe

Best Classical Instrumental Solo
“Play,” Jason Vieaux

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
Douce France

Best Classical Compendium
Partch: Plectra & Percussion Dances

Best Contemporary Classical Composition
“Adams, John Luther: Become Ocean,” John Luther Adams

John Williams’ music for “The Book Thief”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hufmaYJNKY

February 9, 2015
John Williams Iconic Movie Opening

Still one of the most bravura openings of any movie:

Happy birthday, John Williams (born 1932).

February 8, 2015
Princeton Symphony Salutes the Silver Screen

Lights! Camera! Music?

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra will present “A Silver Screen Salute” on February 7 at 8 p.m.

The concert, which will take place at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium, will include some of film’s most evocative music, including themes from “Gone with the Wind,” “The Magnificent Seven,” “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Star Wars.”

Also featured will be Academy Award winning music by Franz Waxman for “Sunset Boulevard,” Bernard Herrmann’s score for Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo,” Ennio Morricone’s poignant melodies for “Cinema Paradiso,” and John Williams’ Indiana Jones march from “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

The PSO will be joined by The American Boychoir for selections from Williams’ “Empire of the Sun,” “Amistad,” and “Saving Private Ryan,” as well as Herbert Stothart’s score for “The Wizard of Oz,” on themes of Harold Arlen.

NPR arts commentator Bob Mondello will host the event. Read more about it in my article in today’s Trenton Times.

http://www.nj.com/times-entertainment/index.ssf/2015/01/princeton_symphony_orchestra_p.html

PHOTO: PSO Music Director Rossen Milanov, ready for his close-up

January 30, 2015

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