[markrayen]

February 2005. Purely by chance, I was to be in London visiting relatives at the very same time John Williams was at Abbey Road recording the hugely anticipated Revenge og the Sith with the LSO… and he was scheduled to appear as conductor of the LSO at Barbican Hall for an evening of his film music! With help from my mother I was able to get tickets, and actually remember trying to conceal some of my excitement at home as certain family members would tease me for my interests. Unfortunately, Williams did not participate that evening with the official reason he was due to commence work on War of the Worlds (Dirk Brossé was his replacement). I don’t recall much of the disappointment (however substantial that must have been at the time), only the thrill of experiencing the entirety of that evening. A special greeting to the audience from Steven Spielberg was read by the emcee (I remember being mesmerized by that), and several musicians were interviewed about their experience recording Revenge of the Sith and other scores – including the great, late Maurice Murphy. In hindsight, what a privilege to have heard him play the opening of Star Wars shortly before his retirement. Context is everything, and the joint facts that this was the first time I heard any of that music performed live, and got to meet and feel the excitement of others with a very similar passion to mine, made it a very special evening.