“Ultimate John Williams” – Courtesy of Tom Russo. Used with permission.
Whenever I attend an Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Pops concert, led by irrepressible Jack Everly, I can always expect to benefit from his prodigious talents as a conductor, arranger, and recontour, while enveloping myself in the electric sounds of the world-class ISO performance of the “Ultimate John Williams.” The concert, that took place on Saturday, was no exception.
“Ultimate John Williams” – Courtesy of Tom Russo. Used with permission.
Held at Hilbert Circle Theatre, a former movie palace, the program included most of Williams’s masterpieces, reflecting his distinctive style and noted for its grandness, grandiosity, and pathos. Included were “Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Suite,” “Devil’s Dance” from The Witches of Eastwick,” “Hymn to the Fallen” from “Saving Private Ryan,” “Overture to ‘The Cowboys,” and the melancholic “Princess Leia’s Theme” from “Star Wars Suite for Orchestra.
Also featured was a medley titled “Three Marches,” consisting of the themes from “Superman,” “Imperial March from Star Wars,” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” accompanied by a video collage of photos from Williams’s 2018 concert with the ISO
A highlight of the concert, played in front of a full house, was the solo performance of principal cellist Austin Huntington, who brilliantly played an excerpt of the theme from “Seven Years in Tibet.” His soulful interpretation of the mournful piece. moved and touched me deeply.
An added “Ultimate John Williams” attraction that showcased Everly’s seamless arranging and the ISO’s exceptional musicianship and artistry was its performance of a medley titled “Tribute to the Film Composer.” Celebrating famous themes by other composers, the piece included themes from “Casablanca,” “Titanic,” “Psycho,” and “The Pink Panther,” among many others. Another highlight was a delightful medley of fanfares that precede films, presented by movie studios such as MGM and FOX Searchlight Pictures.
The tremendously entertaining concert concluded with a triumphant flourish as the epic sounds of “Main Title from Star Wars Suite” filled the hall.
For Tickets and information about the Indianapolis Symphony 2024-2025 Season visit Indianapolissymphonyy.org
