Track Listing
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 2
John Williams
For Anne-Sophie Mutter
01. I. Prologue (11:12)
02. II. Rounds (9:29)
03. III. Dactyls (6:00)
04. IV. Epilogue (8:23)
05. Theme from THE LONG GOODBYE (5:58)
Der Tod kennt keine Wiederkehr
06. HAN SOLO AND THE PRINCESS from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (5:31)
Star Wars: Das Imperium schlägt zurück
07. MARION'S THEME from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (4:24)
Indiana Jones: Jäger des verlorenen Schatzes
Following
the huge success of John Williams – The Berlin Concert , which
topped the German pop charts earlier this year, Deutsche Grammophon is
now proud to present the world premiere recording of John
Williams’ Violin Concerto No. 2. The work was written for and
recorded by the venerated composer’s friend and frequent
collaborator Anne-Sophie Mutter. Her impassioned performance was given
with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Williams, who
celebrated his 90th birthday on 8 February.
The new album also includes three film themes newly arranged for the
violinist by their composer – the Theme from The Long Goodbye,
“Han Solo and the Princess” from Star Wars: The Empire
Strikes Back, and “Marion’s Theme” from Indiana Jones
and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Williams: Violin Concerto No. 2 &
Selected Film Themes is set for release on CD and digitally on 3 June
2022, while the Concerto itself will also be simultaneously released on
vinyl.
Williams and Mutter have worked together often since she gave the first
performance of his Markings in Boston almost five years ago, and have
co-starred on two previous hugely successful Deutsche Grammophon
albums: Across the Stars (2019) and John Williams in Vienna (2020).
Williams’ second violin concerto reflects his deep admiration for
the lyrical warmth and dynamism of Mutter’s playing and for her
sense of musical adventure.
John Williams recalls: “When Anne-Sophie invited me to compose a
concerto for her, I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to write for
one of the world’s greatest artists. It was also a challenge, of
course, because there are so many great violin concertos in the
repertoire.”
Scheduled for release on 19 August, a special single-disc Blu-ray
edition of the album will feature all tracks in Pure Audio – also
available in Surround and Dolby Atmos – along with films of last
summer’s world premiere of the second violin concerto at
Tanglewood, together with the artists’ encore performance of
“Across the Stars” (from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones);
the three film themes in concert from Boston; and a 25minute interview
with John Williams and Anne-Sophie Mutter at Tanglewood. A 10-inch
vinyl version of the three film themes will be released on the same
day, available exclusively online from the DG Store.
To whet fans’ appetites, a new single and video of the
concerto’s second movement, “Rounds”, will be
available from 11 March. This will be followed by “Han Solo and
the Princess” on 29 April, with a special YouTube premiere for
its video on 4 May – Star Wars Day. The e-single and video of
“Marion’s Theme” will be released on the same day as
the album, 3 June, while the video of the Theme from The Long Goodbye
will come out with the Blu-ray album on 19 August.
The joint albums and performances by the legendary film composer John
Williams and the star violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter are undoubtedly
among the highlights of recent years. This album is the latest in a
longstanding friendship and collaboration between the world’s
acclaimed artists: Mutter performs John Williams’ Violin Concerto
No. 2, which the composer wrote for her.
Williams says of his Violin Concerto: “For me, this piece is
primarily about Anne-Sophie Mutter and about the violin as a
masterpiece of the art of violin making. (…) Ultimately, this
great artist herself became my inspiration and driving force.”
The present recording for Deutsche Grammophon, with the Boston Symphony
Orchestra conducted by Williams himself, was written shortly after the
world premiere of the Second Violin Concerto in Tanglewood in July 2021.
The Boston Globe wrote, “Even in this premiere, Mutter carried
the solo like an old friend, shaping every phrase with purpose and
panache.” The lyrical and deeply personal concerto follows the
album with three fantastic encores: Popular film themes from Williams,
including from Star Wars and Indiana Jones, all of which he has
completely re-arranged for Anne-Sophie Mutter. The expressiveness of
Mutter’s playing is reflected in various details of the violin
concerto, but also in the beautiful film melodies, as is her virtuoso
brilliance and the lyrical warmth of her violin tone.
(Thanks to jwfan.com!)
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