Vienna & 2020

DG presents John Williams in Vienna, the live recordings of the Hollywood legend's Vienna Philharmonic 2020 debut. Saying it's "one of the greatest honors of my life," he received a standing ovation before a single note was played. Sharing the stage with the famous orchestra and violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, he performs iconic themes from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park and other cinematic landmarks that have earned countless awards: 5 Oscars, 5 Emmys.

The legendary American film composer John Williams conducts the Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra for the first time Visit from the dear God was the title of the standard,
standing upright jubilant choirs at their first appearance: as if God was received by
earthly disciples John Williams in Vienna documents the historical performance a
very special honour in the life of the composer Symphonic Hollywood sounds on the stage
of the Vienna Musikverein the world-famous orchestra plays cult themes from Star Wars,
Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park and other milestones in film history Star guest
Anne-Sophie Mutter with adaptations for violin arranged especially for her by Williams Star
Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park the soundtracks of the master of cinematic
magic John Williams are among the most popular in the history of film and have received numerous
prestigious awards, including five Oscars, five Emmys, four Golden Globes and twenty-five Grammys.

John Williams In Vienna’ featuring the legendary composer’s debut concert with the Vienna Philharmonic will be released in August 2020.

William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony was premiered by Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1934 to huge enthusiasm. Its traditional form houses a continuous process of variation and introduces little-known spirituals in fragmentary form, while the work’s recurring motifs, remarkable transitions and syncopations are enhanced in Dawson’s 1952 revision heard here. The Fantasy Variations by composer and teacher Ulysses Kay employs dissonance with great expressivity in a work of textural and coloristic variety. Umbrian Scene, despite its pictorial suggestion, is lean and sombre.

With the departure of vocalist John Foxx and guitarist Robin Simon behind them, Vienna kicked off Ultravox's second phase with former Rich Kids vocalist Midge Ure at the helm. Trading Foxx's glam rock stance for Ure's aristocratic delivery, Vienna recasts the band as a melodramatic synth pop chamber ensemble with most of the group doubling on traditional string quartet instruments and the synthesizers often serving to emulate an orchestra…