Saito Kinen Orchestra / John Williams / Stéphane Denève: John Williams In Tokyo
An album review of the latest recording featuring John Williams under the baton conducting a snapshot of highlights from his towering career in film score.
Saito Kinen Orchestra / John Williams / Stéphane Denève
Live in Tokyo
Deutsche Grammophon
This is just one of the many new releases pouring out with John Williams’ name on it. All official. All featuring not just his works, but his actual, living, breathing work, so often here’s there now, in his 90s, waving his wand literally to sprinkle this musical magic, there as the conductor overseeing his works. It’s his amazing Victory Lap tour. And, as with a previous outing I wrote about it’s simply marvellous to even have this stuff, let alone whether it’s ‘good’ or not. But of course it is. It’s some of the best music for film ever made, played by a brilliant orchestra under the baton of the man that wrote and arranged it. What’s not to love?
Thirty years ago, Williams went to Japan to work, this recording documents his return — late last year. Bittersweet, because since his visit to record, but before this album was officially released, the world lost Seiji Ozawa at the age of 88. He was Williams’ friend, and the founder of the Saito Kinen Orchestra.
The recent Williams albums have showcased some of his blockbuster themes, but when Williams is conducting he has also moved outside of his own works to show off his separate conducting repertoire. Here, for the Japanese audience, he works exclusively with his own material. And in what could at first seem very narrow, it’s mostly Harry Potter and his original Star Wars: A New Hope material. The opening Superman is one hell of a scene-setter too.
But wait. It’s amazing how warm and beautiful these cues from the Potter films are, and those familiar wafts from the first Star Wars feature. We hear The Imperial March in a variety of contexts, of course. But here we get to hear Yoda’s Theme and Princess Leia’s Theme also, and you realise how genius it was of Williams to make individual character themes, and how crucial they have been in the prequels and sequels when used, and to spark ideas for new character themes. But also, as works away from the film. These are simply beautiful pieces of music.
This programme also includes a key cue from Schindler’s List and the Raiders March from Raiders of the Lost Arc. Look, it won’t be for everyone, some people would wonder why such “blockbuster” scores deserve another outing, much less any sort of review, but I can’t stop listening to this. These versions are perfect. This music is so much a part of my childhood, and now my adulthood.
I’m all about celebrating Williams why we still have him. He’s given us more brilliant music for the big screen than anyone else apart from the Maestro Morricone. Williams is of course a legend. But these new concert performances show how vital both he and his music continues to be.
