Important information
Programme:
John Williams:
The Raiders March from Indiana Jones
Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter
Double Trouble from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Somewhere in My Memory from Home Alone
Flying Theme from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Theme from Schindler’s List
Superman March from Superman
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John Williams:
Main Title from Star Wars
Battle of the Heroes from Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Duel of the Fates from Star Wars
The Jedi Steps and Finale from Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Princess Leia’s Theme from Star Wars
The Imperial March from Star Wars
Yoda’s Theme from Star Wars
Throne Room and End Title from Star Wars
Over the course of his long career, John Williams has created some of the most popular and recognisable film music in the history of cinema. Although skilled in a variety of compositional techniques, he is essentially a Romantic composer, often combining traditional musical expression with avant-garde and popular music. His talent for expressing the dramatic essence of a film has led to his work on productions such as the Indiana Jones franchise, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, JFK and Saving Private Ryan. He has received numerous awards for his work, including 26 Grammy Awards, five Academy Awards, three Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. With 54 Oscar nominations, he is the most nominated composer and second most nominated person in Academy Awards history, behind Walt Disney. His music will be performed by the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra and National Choir of Sofia Philharmonic, conducted by Nayden Todorov, a big fan of the Star Wars saga, who is known for his versatility and vibrant interpretations and who trained with Uroš Lajovic, among other conductors. He has been working with the Sofia Philharmonic, founded in 1892 and one of the leading institutions in Bulgarian musical life, since 2001 and was appointed director in 2017.
- the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1892 as the Guards Symphony Orchestra (later the Royal Military Symphony Orchestra)
- the orchestra has worked with giants of classical music such as Valery Gergiev, Ivo Pogorelić, Martha Argerich and Elīna Garanča
- Nayden Todorov is the current Bulgaria’s minister of culture
- the music of John Williams is often stylistically linked to works by Gustav Holst, Igor Stravinsky and Erich Wolfgang Korngold
- his favourite film music is his music for E. T.