New Philharmonic presents “The Best of John Williams 2.0” featuring selections from the Academy Award-winning composer’s memorable film scores, at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3. Observed Stephen Spielberg at the 44th American Film Institute Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to John Williams, "Without John Williams, bikes don’t really fly, nor do brooms in Quidditch matches, nor do men in red capes. There is no Force, dinosaurs do not walk the Earth, we do not wonder, we do not weep, we do not believe." Williams is the subject of “Music by John Williams,” an all-new documentary based on the life and career of the legendary composer premiering Nov. 1 on Disney+.
Under the direction of Maestro Kurk Muspratt, New Philharmonic takes a magical musical journey down an extraordinary cinematic memory lane with Williams’ most beloved pieces spanning his more than six-decade career. A free MAC Chat will begin one hour prior to each performance.
Maestro Kirk Muspratt and New Philharmonic
The program will feature the following:
• “Scherzo for X-Wings.” This is a concert piece and musical track composed by John Williams for the sequel trilogy film and fifth highest grossing film of all time, “Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens” (2015). The piece prominently features variations on the “Star Wars Main Title,” with a single use of "The Force Theme" towards the end.
• Theme from “Peter Gunn” by Henry Mancini. Williams played piano on the original recording for the hit private eye TV show back in 1958. It earned Mancini an Emmy Award nomination and two Grammys. Williams rerecorded it for a 2023 tribute album honoring famed composer Mancini.
• “The Cowboys” Overture. Williams provided the vivid score for this 1972 western starring John Wayne. It marked a departure from Williams’ usual musical style with its more restrained and traditional soundtrack.
• “Mission Theme” for NBC News (1985). When Williams was approached to write the NBC News suite, he was already well known for his work on “Star Wars and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” NBC engaged Williams to contrast with the synthesized music common for news programs at the time.
• Selection from “Sayuri’s Theme” from “Memoirs of a Geisha” (2005). Awards garnered by the score include Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, BAFTA Award for Best Film Music and the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.
• “Olympic Fanfare and Theme.” Williams debuted the work in a Boston Pops concert in June 12, 1984, then conducted the work at the opening ceremonies of the 23rd Olympiad at the Los Angeles Coliseum on July 28, 1984.
• “Jaws” (1975). Awards garnered for this score include Winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Score, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and Grammy Award for the Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. The American Film Institute named Williams’ composition the sixth greatest motion picture score of all time.
• “Jurassic Park” (1993). This American science fiction action film based on the book by bestselling novelist Michael Crichton was directed by Steven Spielberg. This blockbuster hit film went on to gross more than Spielberg's own “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” Williams felt he needed to write "pieces that would convey a sense of 'awe' and fascination," as the film dealt with the "overwhelming happiness and excitement" of seeing live dinosaurs.
• “Midway March” and “Men of the Yorktown” from “Midway” (1976). This WW II war film inspired by the historic starred battle of Midway starred Charlton Heston and Henry Fonda, plus a large international cast of guest stars including James Coburn, Glenn Ford, Ed Nelson, Hal Holbrook, Robert Webber, Toshiro Mifune, Robert Mitchum, Cliff Robertson, Robert Wagner, Pat Morita, Dabney Coleman, Erik Estrada and Tom Selleck. It was the 10th most popular film of 1976.
• Selection from “Adventures on Earth” from “E.T. The Extraterrestrial” (1982). Williams’ score for the film won the 1983 Academy Award for best original film score, as well as praise from director Steven Spielberg as “John Williams’ best work for the movies.” “Adventures on Earth” combines themes from the last part of the film, encompassing the iconic bicycle chase, the tearful goodbye, and the spaceship’s ascent into the night sky.
• Cantina Band and Throne Room/End Title from “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (1977). The American Film Institute named this score the greatest of all time. In 1977, the score won the Academy Award for Best Original Score, Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, and the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music.
Tickets
New Philharmonic presents “The Best of John Williams: 2.0” at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2 and 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 3 at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., on the campus of College of DuPage. Tickets are $57-$67. For tickets visit www.AtTheMAC.org or call 630.942.4000. The McAninch Box Office is open Tuesday – Saturday, noon – 6 p.m. and two hours prior to performance.
A free MAC chat precedes all performances beginning one hour prior to performance.
About New Philharmonic
New Philharmonic, the only professional orchestra based in DuPage County, Ill., has inspired classical music enthusiasts in Chicago and the suburbs for more than four decades. New Philharmonic was recently honored with the Illinois Council of Orchestras’ 2020 ICO Award in the category Programming of the Year. It continues to thrive with the goal to give innovative treatment to both classic compositions and modern works while striving to make the music accessible to new audiences and youth through a variety of educational efforts. Today, under the direction of Music Director/Conductor Kirk Muspratt, named 2018 Conductor of the Year (Professional Orchestra) by Illinois Council of Orchestras, New Philharmonic consists of more than 60 professional musicians and typically performs more than a dozen concerts a year, reaching more than 7,500 from the greater Chicago area annually.
Season support for New Philharmonic is provided in part by the DuPage Foundation, a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, Brookdale Glen Ellyn; Sullivan Taylor Family Trust, Frank Modruson and Lynne Shigley, Anonymous, 90.9 FM WDCB Public Radio and the College of DuPage Foundation.
About the MAC
McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage is located 25 miles west of Chicago near I-88 and I-355. It houses three indoor performance spaces (780-seat proscenium Belushi Performance Hall; 186-seat soft-thrust Playhouse Theatre; and a versatile black box Studio Theatre), outdoor Lakeside Pavilion, plus the Cleve Carney Museum of Art and classrooms for the college’s academic programming. The MAC has presented theater, music, dance and visual art to more than 1.5 million people since its opening in 1986 and typically welcomes more than 100,000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 230 performances each season.
The mission of the MAC is to foster enlightened educational and performance opportunities, which encourage artistic expression, establish a lasting relationship between people and art, and enrich the cultural vitality of the community. For more information about the MAC, visit www.AtTheMAC.org or @AtTheMAC on Facebook and Instagram.
Support for the McAninch Arts Center is provided in part by Brookdale Senior Living Glen Ellyn, Anonymous, College of DuPage Foundation, Sullivan Taylor Family Trust, DuPage Foundation, Ball Horticultural, Frank Modruson & Lynne Shigley, Enjoy Illinois, Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Media Sponsor is WDCB 90.9 FM, Hotel Sponsor is DoubleTree by Hilton Lisle/Naperville.
Established as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization in 1967, the College of DuPage Foundation raises monetary and in-kind gifts to increase access to education and to enhance cultural opportunities for the surrounding community. For more information about the College of DuPage Foundation, visit www.foundation.cod.edu or call 630.942.2462.