by Lisa Nystrom
The Oscar winning musician is responsible for some of the most beloved movie soundtracks of all time, with wistful instrumentals that will take you back to childhood (Home Alone, E.T.), or send chills down your spine with little more than a simple alternating pattern of two notes (Jaws).
A master of emotion — joy, suspense, loneliness, and love — Williams’ music is as iconic as the blockbusters he scored, as recognisable as even the most quoted dialogue. Fittingly, the MSO’s performance opens with the Superman March, brass soaring higher than a bird or a plane, a fanfare so instantly recognisable it set the standard for superhero themes for decades to come.
Following that impressive introduction, co-hosts Dr. Dan Golding and Andrew Pogson join the stage to lend a framework to the night’s music, providing a timeline for Williams’ rise along with some light-hearted fanboy banter. The genuine love and enjoyment of the music being presented is evident not just in our hosts’ enthusiasm or the audience’s roaring applause, but in the energy of the Orchestra as they bring each theme to life.
MSO Concertmaster Sophie Rowell is mesmerising as she takes the stage with excerpts from Williams’ very first Oscar winning score, Fiddler on the Roof. The composer’s ability to imbue each instrument with its own individual character is in full effect as the lavish orchestral score sways into the more personal, intimate voice of Rowell’s violin.
Williams’ mastery of storytelling through his music is unparalleled, whether it be the whimsical woodwinds reminiscent of happy thoughts and pixie-dust, or the crashing majesty of his low brass convincing us that dinosaurs are alive again and closer than they appear. The MSO are equally flawless in their recreation of these well-loved tales. With each familiar note comes an energy that flows between the orchestra and the audience as they imagine the stories being re-told through the melodies.
Performing to a sold-out audience, conductor Nicholas Buc brings together this night of music, superb storytelling, and a truly delightful treat of an encore. Not only a wonderful nod to this great composer’s legacy, but a roadmap of the epic journey he has ahead of him: at 90 years old, Williams is composing music for Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+ and is slated to begin work on the upcoming Indiana Jones 5.
The Music of John Williams continues Thursday 02 June 2022 7:30pm at Hamer Hall
