The other day I was looking through my concert journal and was surprised--because I had forgotten it--that I had seen the World Premiere of Williams' first Violin Concerto, January 29th, 1981 at Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis. I don't have the ticket stub, but I suspect that Leonard Slatkin conducted.
thanks for posting the list. One of my regrets was that I missed the 1972 World Premiere of Goldsmith's Music for Orchestra. I was in high school and had been listening to Goldsmith, Barry, Schifrin, Quincy, and so on since the mid-sixties, but I was unaware of the Goldsmith concert--until I accidentally heard him interviewed on a local radio program on KMOX while in town.
On the subject of world premieres, the St. Louis Symphony continues to program many such works every season with Stephane Deneve leading the orchestra.
Anne-Sophie Mutter & John Williams on their collaboration (Episode 1)
John Williams’ Violin Concerto No. 2 was written for and recorded by the venerated composer’s friend and frequent collaborator Anne-Sophie Mutter. Her impassioned world premiere performance was given with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Williams, in Tanglewood. In these series of conversations with John Williams and Anne-Sophie Mutter, the artists talk about the story behind and their thoughts about the Violin Concerto No. 2 as well as their inspiring collaboration with each other and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In Part 1, both artists go into the details of how all of this came about – from a few bars which Williams composed for Anne-Sophie Mutter through a middle movement of a concerto until a full concerto for the violin.
“I can only think of this piece as being about Anne-Sophie. I took my inspiration and energy directly from this great artist herself.” – John Williams
Anne-Sophie Mutter & John Williams on composing (Episode 2)
John Williams’ Violin Concerto No. 2 was written for and recorded by the venerated composer’s friend and frequent collaborator Anne-Sophie Mutter. Her impassioned world premiere performance was given with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Williams, in Tanglewood. In these series of conversations with John Williams and Anne-Sophie Mutter, the artists talk about the story behind and their thoughts about the Violin Concerto No. 2 as well as their inspiring collaboration with each other and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In Part 2, John Williams talks about how different it is to write an absolute piece for concert rather than composing for a movie. Anne-Sophie Mutter explains her first impression when she saw the score of the Violin Concerto No. 2.
“I can only think of this piece as being about Anne-Sophie. I took my inspiration and energy directly from this great artist herself.” – John Williams
Just because a piece is for soloist and orchestra, that doesn't make it a concerto by default.
Sure, of course, and a possible explanation for TreeSong, but I’ve always considered it mostly consistent with Williams’ other concertos. Structurally if more concisely, it plays out like one of them.
I think "Tree Song" isn't really a Violin Concerto for the same reason that Debussy's "La Mer" isn't really a Symphony. The movements are probably too similar in tone and don't follow the formal symphonic/concerto structure. So both the intent and the formal construction differ from the classical concerto form, which is probably why Williams chose to not call it a Violin Concerto. I admit, I never thought of "Tree Song" as a Violin Concerto either, even though, yes of course, it is written for solo violin and orchestra.
Did anyone here receive the signed album? I know I had an order put through and have the PayPal receipt to prove it - but I ordered the thing back in, what, February?
Did anyone here receive the signed album? I know I had an order put through and have the PayPal receipt to prove it - but I ordered the thing back in, what, February?
I ordered it as well. I got a shipping notification at the beginning of June, but it hasn't arrived yet. According to the tracking info, it's currently sitting in customs in New York, so hopefully in the next week or so.
Well, go figure.... My signed copy FINALLY arrived from Germany, but thanks to our friends in the US Postal Service, it was ruined in transit. The whole package was soaked. The signed booklet and the CD case were destroyed, just turned to pulp, indicating that it must have been submerged in water for a long time. It was delivered in a plastic bag from the USPS with a note that basically said, "Sorry, shit happens."
It's not worth the expense to return it to DG, and I couldn't get another signed booklet even if I was willing to return it. I ordered another copy of the CD from Amazon, but I'm so disappointed to lose the signed booklet.
Well, go figure.... My signed copy FINALLY arrived from Germany, but thanks to our friends in the US Postal Service, it was ruined in transit. The whole package was soaked. The signed booklet and the CD case were destroyed, just turned to pulp, indicating that it must have been submerged in water for a long time. It was delivered in a plastic bag from the USPS with a note that basically said, "Sorry, shit happens."
It's not worth the expense to return it to DG, and I couldn't get another signed booklet even if I was willing to return it. I ordered another copy of the CD from Amazon, but I'm so disappointed to lose the signed booklet.
Sorry to hear that! If you're interested I could send you my signed booklet. There were 2 booklets in my package, one signed and one normal. I wouldn't mind, I already have AS Mutter's autograph : ) Send me an email if I can help you out!
Sorry to hear that! If you're interested I could send you my signed booklet. There were 2 booklets in my package, one signed and one normal. I wouldn't mind, I already have AS Mutter's autograph : ) Send me an email if I can help you out!
Maarten
This!! This is why I love being a member of this board. There are so many good, kind folks out there who share my passion for music. In a world filled with so many angry people who seemingly just look out for themselves, and everyone else be damned, a random act of generosity and kindness really restores my faith. There may be some pettiness and bickering in some of the threads, but overall I believe that most members on this board are good decent people. Thanks for letting me part of it.
I haven't been following this thread until now. Just popped in and saw the comments about the damaged item, and another board member's willingness to offer his signed booklet as replacement. What a pleasant thing to read this morning! I echo the sentiment that this board is full of kind, generous people. I even recently had a fellow board member go out of his way to assist me with an out of print score from Goldsmith. Good stuff to see during these trying times.
Blu-Ray arrived from US Amazon to Texas this past weekend...
Hi-Res Audio of Concerto and New Solo Violin Arrangements
Video- Complete Concerto Performance with BSO at Tanglewood and the Solo Violin Arrangements from BSO Concert at Symphony Hall in Boston.
Also, interview with ASM and JW in video form
Seems like most of the video content can be tracked down on youtube right now...
I do wish that Deutsche Grammophon would be more consistent with packaging... Purchased Four different different releases with Blu-Ray discs over the past couple of years and all for of them have come in different sized cardboard cases...
It's disappointed that the blu ray release doesn't include the cd.
Everything that is on the CD is also included in the audio-only portion of the blu-ray, and in multiple audio formats. That's in addition to the video content, which is a separate unique performance. So you really get everything on the blu-ray release.
It's disappointed that the blu ray release doesn't include the cd.
Everything that is on the CD is also included in the audio-only portion of the blu-ray, and in multiple audio formats. That's in addition to the video content, which is a separate unique performance. So you really get everything on the blu-ray release.
But I can't play it on the cd player, neither rip it!
I received the Blu-ray release today. It's in a cardboard case similar to the Berlin Concert and the Vienna Concert Blu-rays. It's slimmer but the same dimensions as those earlier releases. It's a single disc with the Pure Audio program and the video program presented separately and accessed by two menu screens. Pure Audio presents 2 channel PCM at 24 bit/96 kHz and 5.1 at 24 bit/96 kHz as well as a Dolby Atmos option. Video is 1080i 16x9 and presents portions of two separate concerts.
