John Williams: This will be my last film

John Williams: This will be my last film

News

norman lebrecht

June 23, 2022

From an interview with the Associated Press:

“At the moment I’m working on ‘Indiana Jones 5,’ which Harrison Ford — who’s quite a bit younger than I am — I think has announced will be his last film,” Williams says. “So, I thought: If Harrison can do it, then perhaps I can, also.”

Ford, for the record, hasn’t said that publicly. And Williams, who turned 90 in February, isn’t absolutely certain he’s ready to, either.

“I don’t want to be seen as categorically eliminating any activity,” Williams says with a chuckle, speaking by phone from his home in Los Angeles. “I can’t play tennis, but I like to be able to believe that maybe one day I will.”

Comments

  • MacroV says:

    Well, he can still write some orchestral works; how about a symphony? And he’s clearly a very welcome guest conductor with any orchestra in the world.

    • Peter says:

      Write? You mean steal…. Cough cough … Sorry .. i mean get “inspired by other composers”

      • Jobim75 says:

        At least, he did it with talent….

      • Rob says:

        For those interested, check out the flying theme in E.T and the tune Mahler wrote in the trio of the Rondo Burleske of the 9th first heard on trumpet.

        • Maria says:

          I’m sure John would tell you that he’s played and knows his Mahler 9th so well, particularly that last movement so as to steal a theme for ET! Why don’t you ask him?

      • Rafael Enrique Irizarry says:

        Shame on you, sir, for spewing such ignorant dribble!

      • guest says:

        @Peter, perhaps you should also have a sneer at Mr Handel while you’re at it. (Come to think of it, if Handel were alive now, he would certainly be a serious rival to John Williams in the film score business.)

      • Maria says:

        Which composers did you have in mind?

  • Cecily says:

    I hope John Williams goes on to give us some more of his excellent music as suggested above (–nice to know that Harrison Ford at least has extricated himself from the dreadful “Indiana” groundhog situation)

  • Gustavo says:

    The key piece of information, however, is that John Williams is going to compose a piano concerto dedicated to Emanuel Ax!

  • J Barcelo says:

    I really hope he writes, or at least contributes, to a thorough biography, especially in regards to his early years in Hollywood. The list of greats he studied and worked with is incredible. Some people think he’s the greatest film composer of all time; I would agree he’s the most successful and don’t care if he’s derivative or not. Anyone who could write as much widely varied music with such professionalism deserves respect and appreciation.

  • Rafael Enrique Irizarry says:

    Overheard RELIABLE, TOP TIER sources discussing that Maître Stéphan Denève had managed to commit Maestro Williams to a symphony for the Philadelphia Orchestra. 500 bars were already written according to a very knowledgeable insider in conversation during a Boston Symphony rehearsal some 4 years ago. Many, all over the world, will look forward to that first performance of a much-awaited work.

  • Zachary Binx says:

    Where’s the concerto for double bass?

  • Thomas M. says:

    He’s 90 years old, his standing in the contemporary music community is secured. He can now concentrate on a handful of concert works in his “private” style, where he can do what he wants. I hope he has more than a handful in him still.

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