Been to any good concerts lately?
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There are some concert reviews on the site, but I wonder if you’ve attended any particular concerts in your life that are worth mentioning? Film music and otherwise?
Back in 2011 I attended a PSYCHO “live-to-picture” “concert” in Glasgow. That was excellent, and I wrote a bit about it at the time:
But, these live-to-picture events are probably not what you are meaning, Thor.
The Brian Tyler concert at the Royal Festival Hall a few years ago was an excellent experience. I like enough of Tyler’s music that I was bound to like the majority of scores sampled. That’s the main thing for me…I tend not to go to concert because there tends to be too much on the program that I am not interested in, and I don’t really enjoy when a live orchestra does their own interpretation of a piece. I want to hear a live version of what there is on the original score.
Easy one, as I haven’t really attended that many of them…
As you will remember, Thor, we both attended a certain Elfman/Burton concert in London, October 7th 2013… We didn’t know there would be many more of them, as this was promoted as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This was also the first time Danny sang on stage in many many years, as Jack Skellington, and he looked very awkward at first. But gradually, he started to really shine, and really enjoy the whole thing. He sang every note perfectly, started dancing, and was really on fire. It got so good that he closed off by saying “Thank you for giving me what I believe is the single greatest moment in my life”, or something to that extent. There was a strong feeling of witnessing a historic event..!
My gut feeling has always been that Elfman thought that he would hate doing it, therefore only announcing one show. Instead he found that he loved it, and wanted to do it again, and so it became a series of concerts instead… I’m sure the income is another motivator, but I really have this feeling that he really only intended to do this once, until this moment where everything clicked, and he rediscovered the joy of being of stage, right before our eyes.
That’s me with actual hair, and beardless Thor.That’s me with actual hair, and beardless Thor.
And 12 years younger, and – for me – about 35 kilos(!) lighter, and no grey hair. 🙂
Be that as it may, it was a great concert. We also went to see Elfman live in Vienna a couple of years later, but it wasn’t as exciting as that first concert in the Royal Albert Hall, when everything was fresh and new.
A few, I’ve seen composers like John Williams, James Newton Howard, Ennio Morricone live in concert. Sadly, not Jerry Goldsmith or James Horner.
I saw Philip Glass live in concert — must have been in 1987, long before these things became fashionable — perform his score for KOYAANISQATSI live to picture, that was pretty cool.
Michael Nyman will be the recipient of the honorary award at the upcoming WSA in Ghent:
I always wondered how these honorary guests are chosen. So far I didn’t see any relation to an anniversary or a special achievement in that particular year.
Anyway, Nyman is for sure a worthy candidate.
As with Hollywood in Vienna, it seems to be about ‘star power attraction’…they all want to pick A list guys for glitz, glory and sold tickets. Although perhaps a bit more sympathetic at WSA; I mean, Laurence Rosenthal was the guest-of-honour last year, and he’s hardly star power. He’s just old. Very old. And needed to be recognized before it was too late.
In other concert news, John Williams just cancelled his Berlin gigs in June, but that was very much expected, given his health situation:
https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/news/cancellation-john-williams/
Sadly not unexpected. Somehow glad that I decided not tried to “invest” in tickets (It was hard to get through anyway, a friend of mine tried and failed)
I live in Berlin and didn’t even try to get a ticket. Somehow I didn’t believe it’s gonna happen.
And Johnny and I had our moment at the last Berlin concert. That was magical.
I mean, I was there in the audience and he conducted. That was enough for.me.Yes, the 2021(?) concert was wonderful, as was having a couple of beers with you afterwards. It’s great that we can cross of live Williams on the list. But I truly feel for those who hadn’t seen him before, and who probably won’t now after his cancellation.
I have seen John Williams give concerts twice live, both times with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl, but that was 30 years or so ago. Certainly both great concerts.
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.
That’s great, Mark (and welcome to the board!)! So Brossé stepped in back then as well, just as he did in 2018 when some of us had the same experience in London. Huh.
I would have loved to see Williams when he did a couple of concerts in London in the 90s, but I didn’t travel alone at that point. Thankfully, I’ve been able to see him live three times since then (Hollywood Bowl 2012, Boston 2014 and Berlin 2021). But I’ve never met him. That will haunt me until the day I die.
Thanks, Thor. Wonderful initiative to have this forum.
I thankfully got to see Williams live in May 2009 for the premiere of the viola concerto (Boston). I was right at the front, seated at a table directly in front of the podium. I clearly didn’t understand the etiquette at all, as I was severely underdressed fashioning a striped cotton sweater and brown jeans among all the galla dresses and tuxes. Although it wasn’t a great feeling realising my huge mistake, as Williams turned around to greet the audience during the first applause he suddenly stared right at me, surely noticing the red-and-grey-striped sweater. Similar thing happened in the parking lot as he looked around to say hello, as about 40 of us waited for the possibility of a short greeting and perhaps autograph signing. I like to think there is a hidden irony there, that the “disrespectfully” dressed lad actually emptied his student bank account and travelled across the Atlantic just to be there that one evening. The over-dressed people I shared table with actually complained they didn’t “recognise any of his tunes” as much of the program consisted of works like Jane Eyre, a brand new viola concerto, “Stargazers” based on the friendship theme of E.T., and other rarities (relatively speaking).
I’m actually glad I’ve never actually met him (or perhaps that what I keep telling myself to save me the disappointment?). A decade or so ago I was able to visit the lads at Jo Ann Kane Music Service, and quite freely roam their unbelievable library of scores and handwritten manuscripts. On a desk near the main entrance was a small table with a handwritten manuscript. I recognised Williams’ handwriting right away and the theme from Schindler’s List arranged for cello, instead of violin. That version is likely to be the one recorded with Yo Yo Ma and the NY Phil a few years ago. I asked about the manuscript and was told Williams had come by personally to drop it off only a few moments prior to my arrival. If I had been there I would likely not have been able to speak or do anything, and I’m not one to care much about a photo or autograph, so I feel its perfectly OK that it wasn’t meant to be!
Jo Ann Kane Music Service sounds like a dream visit for musicians like yourself (with or without the Williams connection)!
That sweater moment is funny. I had a similar moment in 2014. Sitting close to the stage, giving him a thumbs up rather than applause at the end of the concert, which he saw and gave me a thumbs up back. That’s the closest interaction I will ever have. Like you, I waited outside the entrance before the concert, but it was total mayhem, and I have no interest in being a part of that fanboy insanity. But I did snap this funny picture from a distance, which you’ve probably seen on Facebook:
Lovely picture! Although while you had a “thumbs up” moment I’m pretty confident mine was the equivalent of a thumbs down. Or as I was thinking at the time; a signal to the ushers to “get this guy outta here”.
Hey everybody 🙂
It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that my best concert experience was Williams in Vienna in 2020. Right before the world ended.
I’d really class it as the best weekend of my life. After the disappointment of 2018 and the LSO concert, I thought any chance to see JW had passed me by, so I was elated when I managed to get tickets to the first night. It was while we were there that my girlfriend suggested I get on the wait list for returned tickets for the Sunday morning too, since she had an earlier flight home than me so we only needed one ticket. That worked out a treat! So from assuming I’d never see him, I saw him twice that weekend. And Vienna itself was just so magical. There was some snow as we were walking to the venue, and everything was just perfect. I was so grateful to go twice, as the first one was so overwhelming I could barely focus.
I’ve since seen him in Berlin, (Sat not too far from our excellent friend Thor) and also Milan. Next month in Berlin was to be concert No. 5, but obviously plans have changed. It will still be a brilliant weekend though. I can’t wait.
I’ve also just got my ticket for “John Williams Reimagined” in London. That should be really special.
As for any other film music concerts…. I’ve been fortunate enough to see David Arnold a few times. He’s always full of great stories. And I saw a whole bunch of Elfman concerts more recently. The Burton/Elfman concert in London and then the percussion concerto and also Wunderkammer in Liverpool. Those were really special, and I got to meet him briefly too. He said “hey…. aren’t you that guy from the John Williams Vienna DVD?….” 😀
I envy you Vienna/Williams, Jim, as I do everyone who went there. I had a relatively cheap “standing ticket”, but had to cancel for financial reasons. But Berlin in 2021 was great — love that beer pub we went to.
That was such a great bar! I would have happily spent the whole weekend sat in there 😀 (Apart from the concert of course)
I renamed the thread to include all kinds of concerts, not just film music.
Tonight was “Oslo Culture Night” with hundreds of free art events all around town.
I went to see the Oslo Philharmonic in a performance of Anton Bruckner’s 9th symphony, conducted by Swedish legend Herbert Blomstedt — 98 friggin’ years old! Take that, John Williams! OK, so he used a walker to get on and off-stage, as well as a stool to sit on, but still. Insane. The piece was typical Bruckner — very teutonic with large interval leaps and extreme dynamics from low to high.
After that, I went to the Oslo Cathedral for an organ concert. Quite a lot of film music, and standards like Williams’ HARRY POTTER and STAR WARS. But the best pieces were a theme from INTERSTELLAR and a Cesar Franck composition whose name escapes me.
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass this past February.
Now there is something I woudn’t have expected. When Ms.Dr.Jacoby interviewed Herb about 10 years ago, he seemed as if he’d moved on.
So, did anyone here attend the WSA in Ghent? Last day today, I think, with a concert of Philip Glass and Michael Nyman’s music (with the composers present?).
Really wish I had gone this year, and had been in a position to, especially since A.R. Rahman was the guest of honour.
I have a concert dilemma.
On June 18th, Alan Parsons is coming to Oslo for the very first time. Of course I want to go. The Alan Parsons Project is my second favourite act in the pop/rock world. And I’ve never seen them, or Parsons solo, live. (My favourite act, btw, is Supertramp, which I’ve also not seen live, but I HAVE seen Roger Hodgson live, and now that Rick Davies has passed away, that will be it). But a) Parsons has expressed some health issues recently, cancelling his Mexico gigs in early February. He says the other dates will go ahead as planned, but you never know. And b) it’s very expensive. It’s a festival called “Over Oslo” (“Above Oslo”), and you have to pay for a day pass. That’s $150. Will I dare it? It takes a HUGE bite out of my dirt poor economy, but maybe it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I’m struggling, and at some point it will sell out.
I’ve also noticed that Daniel Lopatin will hold a concert here on April 11th. It’s a more doable ticket price at $50, but still expensive. And I’m not really sure if he’s going to play any of his film music; it’s a concert at the Munch museum. Another dilemma.
How do you guys prioritize these things?
Well, my bank account does that decision for me usually. But if you somehow can manage it you have to.
I still regret that I neither managed Morricone when even here in my city – well for personal reasons sadly – nor Williams when he was “in the area” (meaning Berlin and Vienna). But Williams was far too expensive including the journey at the time…
I was never a big concert visitor actually but the last years the already expensive prices for such acts seem to have really skyrocked.
(Side note: Have to get a dental crown next week and that ticket price is cheap against what I will have to pay extra…).
Indeed, the bank account sets the parameters.
But it’s something I always think about. $150 covers all food and drink costs for at least two weeks. I’m going to the dentist soon too, like you, and yes — the amount for the Parsons concert is about the same. So it’s a very down-to-basics dilemma.
(Shame you didn’t make it to Williams/Berlin in 2021, btw. I met Geratewohl there).
My personal economy is quite good, but I am not much of a traveller so the last few years I have only been to concerts here in Kristiansand. Some decent artists are playing here now and then.
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