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The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra named the Hollywood Bowl stage after John Williams. It is the first time in the iconic venue’s 103-year history that an artist has been honored in this way. The naming ceremony was celebrated in a private ceremony on November 9th.
The summer concerts were an institution
The now 93-year-old composer, who wrote the film music for “Star Wars”, “ET” and “Indiana Jones”, among others, was present at the summer concerts at the Hollywood Bowl for many years and, as the “Los Angeles Times” writes, became an institution of the house. The Philharmonic Orchestra also owes its international reputation to its long-standing collaboration with Williams.
The ceremony on November 9th was attended by Steven Spielberg, fellow composer George Lucas and Los Angeles Philharmonic director Gustavo Dudamel. The orchestra’s brass ensemble played Williams’ “Music for Brass,” and violinist Anne Akiko Meyers and pianist Joanne Pearce Martin also performed his “Theme from Sabrina.”
“This is your stage, John, and it has been for the last 46 years.”
On behalf of the Philharmonic, Dudamel described it as a privilege to honor the composer who accompanied and inspired generations of musicians. “Today this wonderful relationship becomes everlasting,” he said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “This is your stage, John, and it has been for the last 46 years.”
Steven Spielberg: John Williams brings films to life
In a statement accompanying the announcement, Spielberg also acknowledged Williams’ influence on the film industry: “Without John Williams, bicycles don’t really fly, neither do broomsticks in Quidditch games, nor do men in red cloaks. There is no dark side of the Force, dinosaurs do not walk the earth. We do not marvel, we do not cry, we do not believe.”
John Williams thanked him for the recognition, which he said he could not have imagined at the beginning of his career: “This is an honor that is probably unprecedented, and the generosity of the Philharmonic family in Los Angeles – my family – in this dedication is unsurpassed,” he emphasized, according to the Los Angeles Times. “I want to thank all of the donors who supported this initiative and proudly support and honor the work of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, one of the world’s great orchestras. The uniqueness of this honor is certainly unparalleled, and I thank you all.”
Williams has won five Grammys and been nominated 54 times in his decades-long career, second only to Walt Disney. In 50 years of composition, he contributed to the music for over 29 films and wrote the soundtracks for “Jaws”, “Schindler’s List”, “Jurassic Park” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, among others.