The name John Williams may not immediately come to mind in connection with all-time blockbuster movies until realizing that this multiple composer has written some of the most recognizable film scores in all of motion picture history.
“Jaws,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Superman,” “Schindler’s List,” “War Horse,” “Home Alone” and four Olympic fanfares are on the list of his musical accomplishments. He and director Steven Spielberg enjoy a happy association in the business of filmmaking.
As conductors and orchestras worldwide pay tribute to his works, (especially this year, in celebration of Williams’ 80th birthday) the National Symphony Orchestra and its conductor Steven Reineke are no exception. This Saturday at Wolf Trap, they bring to life the characters of E.T., Schindler and Indiana Jones to name a few, all through Williams’ original and brilliant arrangements. By way of the music, audiences’ emotions for every Spielberg character run the gamut from empathy to exhilaration.
| Onstage |
| The Music of John Williams |
| » Where: Wolf Trap’s Filene Center, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna |
| » When: 8:15 p.m. Saturday |
| » Info: $20 to $52; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org |
“[Williams] has a tremendous knack for melody,” said Reineke. “He borrows a lot from the classical world. He’s from the old guard of symphonic style writing for the movies and gets a whole orchestra he can work with. People want that lush sound.”
And indeed, they seem to get it. Think of the final scene in “Close Encounters.” The music swells as the space ship departs, even as it softened moments before, when the hero came face to face with the alien.
“He’s very fond of creating a theme that represents a particular character, [and] those themes will keep coming back,” Reineke explained. “The minute you hear ‘Superman,’ or ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ or ‘Harry Potter,’ you know exactly what movie it is; you visualize immediately.”
With all of Williams’ material, choosing the music for a two-hour performance could have been daunting. One thing Reineke wanted to do was utilize the Washington Chorus, under the musical direction of Julian Wachner, for “The Call of the Champions” in the second act and opening the program with Williams’ “Olympic Fanfare,” deeming it appropriate in this Olympic season.
Other pieces include soloists from the NSO, one on the violin for “Schindler’s List” and the other on cello for “Memoirs of a Geisha.”
Reineke also has a very special visual surprise up his sleeve, his only clue being the “Star Wars” saga.
“With the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Chorus, it’s really something to hear this music come to life,” he said.
