John Williams in Concert
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23 Season 2017-2018 Wednesday, April 18, at 7:30 The Philadelphia Orchestra Stéphane Denève Conductor+ John Williams Conductor++ Carol Jantsch Tuba Williams/orch. Hollenbeck A Hymn to New England+ First Philadelphia Orchestra performance Williams Suite from JFK+ Theme—Motorcade—Arlington Williams Tuba Concerto+ I. Allegro moderato II. Andante III. Allegro molto First Philadelphia Orchestra performance Intermission Williams “Swashbuckler” (The Adventures of Mutt), from The Adventures of Indiana Jones++ Williams A Child’s Tale: Suite from The BFG++ First Philadelphia Orchestra performance Williams “The Chamber of Secrets,” from Suite from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets++ Williams “Nimbus 2000” and “Harry’s Wondrous World,” from Suite from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone++ Program continued on next page 24 Williams Theme from Sabrina++ David Kim, violin First Philadelphia Orchestra performance Williams “The Rebellion Is Reborn,” from Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi++ First Philadelphia Orchestra performance Williams “Rey’s Theme,” from Suite from Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens++ Williams “Main Title,” from Star Wars: Suite for Orchestra++ This program runs approximately 2 hours. Stéphane Denève, John Williams, and the musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra are graciously donating their services for tonight’s concert. Philadelphia Orchestra concerts are broadcast on WRTI 90.1 FM on Sunday afternoons at 1 PM, and are repeated on Monday evenings at 7 PM on WRTI HD 2. Visit www.wrti.org to listen live or for more details. 25 The Philadelphia Orchestra Jessica Griffin The Philadelphia Orchestra Philadelphia is home and impact through Research. is one of the preeminent the Orchestra continues The Orchestra’s award- orchestras in the world, to discover new and winning Collaborative renowned for its distinctive inventive ways to nurture Learning programs engage sound, desired for its its relationship with its over 50,000 students, keen ability to capture the loyal patrons at its home families, and community hearts and imaginations of in the Kimmel Center, members through programs audiences, and admired for and also with those who such as PlayINs, side-by- a legacy of imagination and enjoy the Orchestra’s area sides, PopUP concerts, innovation on and off the performances at the Mann free Neighborhood concert stage. The Orchestra Center, Penn’s Landing, Concerts, School Concerts, is inspiring the future and and other cultural, civic, and residency work in transforming its rich tradition and learning venues. The Philadelphia and abroad. of achievement, sustaining Orchestra maintains a strong Through concerts, tours, the highest level of artistic commitment to collaborations residencies, presentations, quality, but also challenging— with cultural and community and recordings, The and exceeding—that level, organizations on a regional Philadelphia Orchestra is and national level, all of which by creating powerful musical a global ambassador for create greater access and experiences for audiences at Philadelphia and for the engagement with classical home and around the world. US. Having been the first music as an art form. American orchestra to Music Director Yannick The Philadelphia Orchestra perform in China, in 1973 Nézet-Séguin’s connection serves as a catalyst for at the request of President to the Orchestra’s musicians cultural activity across Nixon, the ensemble today has been praised by Philadelphia’s many boasts new five-year both concertgoers and communities, building an partnerships with Beijing’s critics since his inaugural offstage presence as strong National Centre for the season in 2012. Under his as its onstage one. With Performing Arts and the leadership the Orchestra Nézet-Séguin, a dedicated Shanghai Media Group. In returned to recording, body of musicians, and one 2018 the Orchestra travels with three celebrated of the nation’s richest arts to Europe and Israel. The CDs on the prestigious ecosystems, the Orchestra Orchestra annually performs Deutsche Grammophon has launched its HEAR at Carnegie Hall while also label, continuing its history initiative, a portfolio of enjoying summer residencies of recording success. The integrated initiatives that in Saratoga Springs, NY, and Orchestra also reaches promotes Health, champions Vail, CO. For more information thousands of listeners on the music Education, eliminates on The Philadelphia radio with weekly broadcasts barriers to Accessing the Orchestra, please visit on WRTI-FM and SiriusXM. orchestra, and maximizes www.philorch.org. 26 Principal Guest Conductor Jessica Griffin Stéphane Denève recently extended his contract as principal guest conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra through the 2019-20 season. He spends multiple weeks each year with the ensemble, conducting subscription, Family, tour, and summer concerts. His 2017-18 subscription season appearances include four weeks of concerts, with a special focus on the music of Guillaume Connesson; two Family concerts; and the Orchestra’s annual New Year’s Eve concert. Mr. Denève has led more programs with the Orchestra than any other guest conductor since making his debut in 2007, in repertoire that has spanned more than 100 works, ranging from Classical through the contemporary, including presentations with dance, theater, film, and cirque performers. Mr. Denève is also music director of the Brussels Philharmonic and director of its Centre for Future Orchestral Repertoire, and music director designate of the St. Louis Symphony. From 2011 to 2016 he was chief conductor of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra and from 2005 to 2012 music director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Recent engagements in Europe and Asia include appearances with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Orchestra Sinfonica dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, the Vienna and NHK symphonies, the Munich and Czech philharmonics, and the Orchestre National de France. In North America he made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2012 with the Boston Symphony, with which he is a frequent guest. He appears regularly with the Cleveland Orchestra, the New York and Los Angeles philharmonics, and the San Francisco and Toronto symphonies. Mr. Denève has won critical acclaim for his recordings of the works of Poulenc, Debussy, Ravel, Roussel, Franck, and Connesson. He is a triple winner of the Diapason d’Or de l’Année, was shortlisted in 2012 for Gramophone’s Artist of the Year award, and won the prize for symphonic music at the 2013 International Classical Music Awards. A graduate of, and prizewinner at, the Paris Conservatory, Mr. Denève worked closely in his early career with Georg Solti, Georges Prêtre, and Seiji Ozawa. He is committed to inspiring the next generation of musicians and listeners and has worked regularly with young people in the programs of the Tanglewood Music Center and the New World Symphony. 27 Conductor In a career spanning more than five decades, John Williams has become one of America’s most accomplished and successful composers for film and for the concert stage. He has served as music director and laureate conductor of one of the country’s treasured musical institutions, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and maintains thriving artistic relationships with many of the world’s great orchestras, including the Boston and Chicago symphonies, and the New York and Los Angeles philharmonics. He made his Philadelphia Orchestra debut in 1978. Born in 1932 in New York, Mr. Williams moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1948, where he studied composition. After service in the Air Force, he studied piano at the Juilliard School before returning to Los Angeles to begin his career in the film industry. He has composed the music and served as music director for more than 100 films. His 45-year artistic partnership with director Steven Spielberg is legendary, resulting in many of Hollywood’s most acclaimed and successful films, including Schindler’s List, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the Indiana Jones films, and, most recently, The Post. He composed the scores for all eight Star Wars films and the first three Harry Potter films. In 1971 he adapted the score for the film version of Fiddler on the Roof, for which he composed original violin cadenzas for renowned virtuoso Isaac Stern. He has also composed numerous works for the concert stage; appeared on recordings as pianist and conductor with Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Jessye Norman, and others; and composed music for many important cultural events. Mr. Williams holds honorary degrees from 22 American universities and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2009. Prestigious awards include the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors, the Olympic Order, and numerous Grammy, Emmy, and Golden Globe awards. He has received five Academy Awards and 51 Oscar nominations, making him the Academy’s most-nominated living person and the second-most nominated person (after Walt Disney) in the history of the Oscars. In 2016 he received the 44th Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute—the first composer to receive this honor. 28 Soloist Jessica Griffin Carol Jantsch became principal tuba of The Philadelphia Orchestra in 2006 and holds the Lyn and George M. Ross Chair. She won the position during her senior year at the University of Michigan, becoming the first female tuba player in a major symphony orchestra. In addition to her duties in The Philadelphia Orchestra, Ms. Jantsch