JOHN WILLIAMS IN TOKYO 2023 Concert Recording Cue of SUPERMAN with THE SAITO KINEN ORCHESTRA on Spotify.
This likely means a Concert CD and DVD Releases are imminent. But digital release is expected on 3rd May.
Look for a formal announcement soon from DG Label.
Just to refresh here is the actual concert programme:
JOHN WILLIAMS CONDUCTS DE SKO’ September 5, 2023, Suntory Hall, Tokyo, JAPAN Saito Kinen Orchestra conducted by JOHN WILLIAMS and Stéphane Denève
CONCERT PROGRAM
Conducted by Stéphane Denève
Sound the Bells! Tributes! (for Seiji) Suite from Far & Away Suite from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Three Million Light Years from Home Stargazers Flying Theme INTERMISSION
Conducted by John Williams
Superman March Three Selections from Harry Potter Hedwig’s Theme Fawkes the Phoenix Harry’s Wondrous World Theme from Schindler’s List Three Selections from Star Wars The Rebellion is Reborn Princess Leia’s Theme Throne Room & Finale ENCORES
Yoda’s Theme from The Empire Strikes Back The Raiders March from Raiders of the Lost Ark The Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back
Amer, I hope you’re right but DG released only three digital tracks from Williams’ 2022 Vienna concert probably because his 2022 concert duplicated music from 2020. I’d love to hear his Tokyo concert even if it contains music DG has released before because each performance is unique. Hopefully it will happen.
Amer, I hope you’re right but DG released only three digital tracks from Williams’ 2022 Vienna concert probably because his 2022 concert duplicated music from 2020. I’d love to hear his Tokyo concert even if it contains music DG has released before because each performance is unique. Hopefully it will happen.
I suppose that's a possibility but Superman was already there so I suppose this will be separate. Fingers crossed.
P.S. being a separate orchestra this should be unique presentation from a Japanese origin.
The umpteenth recording of JW's greatest hits.... Would it kill them to include something, ANYTHING, that hasn't been previously recorded/released?
For Seiji hasn't been released before. As well as the first movement of the ET suite - slightly revised from the original version. Drats, ET isn't on the CD. That hurts.
But yes, more diversity on these live releases would certainly be appreciated by me. There are a lot of pieces Williams has performed live that are different, in some cases just slightly, from their original releases: The Lost World Theme, JFK Suite, The Accidental Tourist, Angela's Ashes suite, The Bookthief, The Flag Parade, and The Patriot.
Any of those would be welcome! I guess a future CD release doesn't influence the setlists. There's always overlap on any major artist's concert releases, but yeah, perhaps not to this extent - especially when you consider Williams enormous catalogue which is orders of magnitude larger than most rock/pop performers.
If Universal Japan releases a video blu-ray of the concert I'd recommend getting it. The Berlin/Vienna concerts were wonderful to watch as well as listen to and there aren't that many high quality videos of Williams conducting his own music.
John Williams, a legend who has shaped the history and sound of film music for more than half a century, will release the album "John Williams in Tokyo" in May 2024, which includes the concert he performed in Japan for the first time in 30 years in September last year. It has been decided that it will be released on Friday, March 3rd. In addition, digital distribution of the lead single ``Superman March' has started.
Last September, John Williams was invited by Seiji Ozawa to organize the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, of which Seiji Ozawa is the general director, and the founding of Deutsche Grammophon, a prestigious classical music label held in conjunction with the festival. They came to Japan for a special performance commemorating their 125th anniversary. Following collaborations with the Berlin Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic, and Los Angeles Recording Arts Orchestra, this is his first collaboration with the Saito Kinen Orchestra. Tickets for both performances became a hot topic as tickets were flooded with applications on sales sites and sold out on the same day.
John Williams and Seiji Ozawa have been close friends since the days when Ozawa served as the 13th music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and hosted the Tanglewood music festival in western Massachusetts. It has been Seiji Ozawa's long-held dream to have John Williams and the Saito Kinen Orchestra perform together in Japan. The release of this live recording was originally scheduled for last year to take place during the week of John Williams' birthday (February 8th), but following the news of Seiji Ozawa's death, discussions were held with Seiji Ozawa's office and family. It was released today.
Commenting on performing with the Saito Kinen Orchestra, Ozawa said, ``I have always said that I would like John to experience the Saito Kinen Orchestra, because I know what he would feel from this special orchestra.' ” he says. It was a long-held dream come true for both of them, and for music fans around the world. John Williams said: ``I am honored to have returned to Japan for the first time in 30 years to visit my dear friend and long-time musical colleague, Seiji Ozawa, and to conduct his wonderful Saito Kinen Orchestra for the first time. I'm happy," he commented.
This miraculous collaboration consists of a program of songs composed by John Williams himself, such as ``Superman March,' ``Schindler's List Theme,' and ``Throne Room and End Titles.'The first half was performed by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Stéphane Denève, a world-renowned conductor who serves as music director of the orchestra, artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra, and chief guest conductor of the Dutch Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, and a long-time friend of John Williams, and John Williams will conduct the second half. It was held in two parts.
The album "John Williams in Tokyo", which will be released on Friday, May 3rd, the day before Star Wars Day (May 4th), is a long-awaited live recording of a concert at Suntory Hall in Tokyo. . Contains 11 songs conducted by John Williams at the Tokyo performance and ``Tributes! (for Seiji)' conducted by conductor Stéphane Denève. "Tributes! (for Seiji)" is a work composed by John Williams in 1999 to commemorate Seiji Ozawa's 25th anniversary as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and this is the world's first release of the work.
Today, digital pre-orders begin at the same time as the advance track "Superman March" begins distribution. The music video for the song and a trailer including an interview with John Williams will be released on Deutsche Grammophon's official YouTube channel today at 6pm.
Furthermore, there are also plans to release audio and video products such as CDs and Blu-rays from this Tokyo performance, and details will be announced at a later date.
"John Williams in Tokyo” John Williams, Stéphane Denève, Saito Kinen Orchestra Released on Friday, May 3, 2024
1. Superman March (from the movie ``Superman') 2. Hedwig's Theme (from the movie ``Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone') 3. Phoenix Fawkes (from the movie ``Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets') 4. Harry's Wonderful World (from the movie ``Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone') 5. Schindler's List Theme (from the movie ``Schindler's List') 6. Rebellion is Reborn (from the movie ``Star·From the movie “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”) 7. Princess Leia’s Theme (from the movie “Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope”) 8. Throne room and end titles (from the movie “Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope”)from the movie ``Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back') 10. Raiders March (from the movie ``Raiders of the Lost Ark') 11. Imperial March (From the movie “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back”) 12. Tributes! (for Seiji)
I attended a John Williams concert - conducted by Richard Kaufman* - at the Liverpool Phil last week and the programme was much more interesting and varied, when compared to Williams' own concerts. It kicked off with Olympic Fanfare/Theme and also included cool things like Catch Me If You Can, Witches Of Eastwick, Aunt Marge's Waltz (from HP3) and the Star Wars suite included Luke & Leia and Forest Battle. Even better, Kaufman managed to procur, direct from JayDubya himself, the score for Minority Report so they could perform A New Beginning. Exquisite. The Jaws suite also included Promenade and Shark Cage fugue. The usual suspects - CE3K, Superman, Hook, Schindlers and E.T - also appeared.
*who performed on many scores by John Williams during the 70s and 80s.
I attended Williams 1998 London concerts - four night and two different programs. A lot of variety in those and no Superman or Imperial March. I was bummed about that at the time, but I was treated to a lot more variety than the recent live albums: JFK suite, Tuba concerto, The Asteroid Field, Cowboys Overture, The Reivers Suite, two pieces from Born on the 4th of July, Sleepers, The Lost World, Liberty Fanfare, Celebrate Discovery, and Witches of Eastwick to name most of the less commonly performed pieces. Now that I look back on those concerts - and I've since seen Superman and Imperial March conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, I only really now realize how lucky I was to not only experience Williams in London, but also the variety of pieces performed.
The Jaws suite also included Promenade and Shark Cage fugue.
Oh I'd love to hear Promenade live. When I first started collecting and when I knew very little about Williams wider output, Promenade was one of the first pieces that I fell in love with beyond the main themes I was already familiar with.
The 1998 concerts were on July 1, 2, 3, and 4. The only mistake I remember was in Arlingon, the final part of the JFK suite, a mistake in the horn intro.
I don't recall Williams saying much except that he would be returning in about 6 months to record The Phantom Menace.
There were also concerts in 1996: June 26, 28, and 30. There are some fliers and set lists here:
