“If I say, the music has a heroic, ceremonial aspect—half my audience will shake their heads and wonder exactly what that might mean. But if I add, ‘just like the theme from ‘Star Wars,’’ suddenly everybody is excited because they know exactly what I’m talking about … What about the Darth Vader theme? Know it? Of course! Indiana Jones? Probably. There are hundreds of film and TV music examples that teachers use. But all those I just mentioned have something in common: They are the work of one man, John Williams, probably the most important film composer in history."
Read the article [app.com]

The audiences were really into the John Williams concerts. I think it was an exciting experience for them to hear these great movie scores highlighted on their own, especially when you can recognize so many melodies. I love the music of Star Wars, and especially the way [Williams] develops them as the movies go on; I think it might be the pinnacle of his career. I can listen to that music over and over.

John Williams is brilliant composer, with such incredible themes and orchestrations. What is fun [for the musicians] is that some of his themes are uncannily similar to the work of other composers. You can hear Dvorák in ET, for example; a lot of Williams' melodies contain pieces in our repertoire that he uses really cleverly.

BEST OF BALLET  
June 2–5
Ballet has the power to transcend time, place and even the force of gravity. It can tell stories or simply express the essence of music. “Best of Ballet” brings together an alluring selection of choreographic favorites, including excerpts from The Nutcracker, The Firebird, Appalachian Spring, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Fancy Free.

AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL FEINSTEIN
June 11
Michael Feinstein—the multi-platinum selling, five-time Grammy-nominated “Ambassador of the Great American Songbook” —combines his critically acclaimed voice and intimate knowledge of American popular standards in a tribute to one of the greatest talents to ever take the stage—“Ol’ Blue Eyes” himself, Frank Sinatra.