John Williams in Concert | The Ultimate Fan Edition

This 7-LP limited edition presents John Williams conducting his own works with his friend
Anne-Sophie Mutter and four of the world’s finest ensembles – the Saito Kinen Orchestra,
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker and Wiener Philharmoniker

The album is released today, alongside the “Imperial March” (Boston Symphony Orchestra version) as a digital single (listen here) and music video (watch here)

The “Imperial March” is also available in versions by all four orchestras, on a 12-inch Darth Vader picture disc

“The invitation to conduct these orchestras is one of the highest accolades any musician can receive … I am so happy to have been well enough and around long enough to accept such invitations, and I hope I can revisit them all in the future”

John Williams

In recent years, Deutsche Grammophon has captured a series of very special concerts at which the legendary John Williams has conducted selections of his own music with some of the world’s greatest orchestras. The Yellow Label is now issuing a unique collection of its recordings with the Hollywood icon as a limited-edition 7-LP set. John Williams in Concert brings together performances of film music from the Saito Kinen Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker and Wiener Philharmoniker, as well as the world premiere recording of Williams’s Second Violin Concerto, with soloist Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO).

John Williams in Concert is out now. Stylishly designed, the set includes a booklet featuring the original album liner notes; a new essay about Williams by renowned film-music writer Jon Burlingame; recollections from Williams himself, Anne-Sophie Mutter and some of the other musicians involved in these recordings; and a selection of concert and portrait photos.

On the same day as the album, DG is also releasing a 12-inch picture disc single in the shape of Darth Vader’s helmet presenting four different recordings of the “Imperial March” from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (one by each orchestra appearing in the vinyl collection). Previously unreleased in any format, the BSO version additionally receives its first digital release. The release of John Williams in Concert coincides with the much-anticipated Music by John Williams, an all-new documentary on the life and career of the legendary composer, directed by Laurent Bouzereau and currently streaming on Disney+.

It was in January 2020 that John Williams made his hugely anticipated conducting debut with the Wiener Philharmoniker at the Vienna Musikverein. The recording of The Vienna Concert (LPs 5 & 6) became the best-selling orchestral album of the year, topping the classical charts in the US, the UK, Japan and Australia and hitting the Top 10 of the pop charts in Germany, Austria and Japan. The conductor and orchestra were joined by violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter to perform new arrangements of some of Williams’ iconic film themes, including “Hedwig’s Theme” from the Harry Potter franchise.

“an unforgettable concert, characterized by great artistic and human appreciation, and indeed
mutual friendship” – Prof. Daniel Froschauer, chair of the Wiener Philharmoniker

Following his success in Vienna, John Williams made another historic debut in autumn 2021, this time taking the helm of the Berliner Philharmoniker. Together they took another journey through some of his most magical movie scores, including excerpts from Far and Away, Jurassic Park and Superman, among many more. They also performed the Olympic Fanfare and Theme and the less familiar Elegy for cello and orchestra, giving a glimpse into Williams’ work away from the cinema. The Berlin Concert (LPs 3 & 4) was released in February 2022 to coincide with the composer’s 90th birthday.

“We are thankful to have had the chance to perform with John, the ‘Superman’
of music himself” – Olaf Maninger, co-chair of the Berliner Philharmoniker

Williams was reunited in the summer of 2021 with Anne-Sophie Mutter at Tanglewood, the BSO’s summer home, where they gave the world premiere of his Violin Concerto No. 2, written expressly for Mutter. Later that year they recorded the concerto at Boston’s Symphony Hall. The Boston Concert (LP 2) presents that version, which met with critical acclaim: “Don’t expect Williams, the master of movie magic and purveyor of luscious themes, simply to tender more of the same in these concertos. What he offers here is way more complex, way thornier … [The music] is infectious by virtue of its creative energy, the sparks of interaction generated between player and composer” (Gramophone).

“John has enriched my life immensely and has inspired me for decades. May the force,
endless joy, inspiration and his magical powers always be with him!” – Anne-Sophie Mutter

The most recent concert included here took place last September, by which time Williams was a youthful 91. It was a uniquely special moment – he was back in Japan, for the first time in 30 years, to work with the Saito Kinen Orchestra at the invitation of his old friend Seiji Ozawa. Sadly, it proved to be the last concert Ozawa attended before his death in February this year. The Tokyo Concert (LPs 1) was also a gala event, co-conducted by Stéphane Denève, to mark DG’s 125th anniversary. Williams took the helm for a wide-ranging selection from his soundtracks to such classics as Superman, Schindler’s List and three of the Star Wars movies, among others.

“John Williams … celebrated his lifetime friendship with Seiji Ozawa, as well as his affection for
the Japanese audiences, in a profoundly moving and generous way” – Stéphane Denève

There are further treats to be found on Encores (LP 7), including three of Williams’ film-theme arrangements for Anne-Sophie Mutter, and Sound the Bells!, composed in 1993 to celebrate the marriage of the now Emperor of Japan and premiered by Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra on their Japanese tour that year. Through this rich variety of music, John Williams in Concert therefore not only immortalises the collaborations with four exceptional orchestras but, to quote Jon Burlingame, reminds us of John Williams’ importance in “the soundtrack of all of our lives”.