How do you celebrate your birthday when it’s the big 9-0 and you are one of the greatest living legends of film, television, and music? Well, for starters, you don’t celebrate for a day, or a month; you celebrate all year.
And so it goes for John Williams, who turned 90 in February. Orchestras all over the world have celebrated throughout the year with special John Williams–themed concerts. The Kennedy Center is no exception. Thursday night June 23 the center celebrated with John Williams: the 90th Birthday Gala Concert.
John Williams deserves all the fuss. The composer of over a hundred scores, he has been credited with keeping the modern symphony culturally relevant. Williams has won 25 Grammys, five Oscars, and four Golden Globes and has received 52 Academy Award nominations. The only person who has been nominated for more Oscars is Walt Disney. And Williams’ films haven’t fared badly economically either. Williams wrote the scores of such classics as the Star Wars films, the Jurassic Park films, and the Harry Potter films. Collectively, Williams’ movies have grossed $25.5 billion.
The swift gala concert was conducted by Stéphane Denève and featured special guests including Yo-Yo Ma, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Steven Spielberg, Daisy Ridley, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. The star of the evening (other than Johnny himself) was undoubtedly the 93-piece National Symphony Orchestra. Highlights included the End Credits from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (with a film montage), the Olympic Fanfare and Theme featuring the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, and Theme from Jurassic Park.
German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter appeared for Markings, Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter, and together with Yo-Yo Ma, The Duel from The Adventures of Tintin. Ma was also featured during Theme from Schindler’s List.
The thoughtfully curated concert included well-placed film montages and messages of congratulations from Williams collaborators like Rob Marshall and Ron Howard as well as a touching message from Mark Hamill, who credited Williams as the person who has contributed most to the Star Wars legacy, second only to George Lucas. Another poignant moment was the 2017 short film Dear Basketball written and narrated by the late Kobe Bryant featuring a score by Williams. Vanessa Bryant, widow of Kobe, introduced the film and explained the warm friendship Bryant and Williams enjoyed.
While the Kennedy Center never advertised an appearance from Williams himself, early on in the evening the conductor confirmed that Williams was in the house. Then when Spielberg concluded his remarks and made a bee-line downstage right for a hug, the entire audience spotted the maestro. Still, it was a shock and delight to see him scale the stairs for the encore. Williams himself conducted the Imperial March from Star Wars. He was in fine form.
The one-night-only event was a fundraiser benefiting the NSO Music Education Fund, an endowment fund to provide perpetual support to NSO music education programs. The NSO’s music education programs are offered for free or at low cost to more than 40,000 children, students, and families each year.
The movie magic was palpable in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Thursday. While directing, cinematography, and acting are all critical components of the artform, the impact of a score cannot be overstated. What is Jaws without Williams’ “Duuun duun”? As Spielberg said, “The shark doesn’t work without the music. Williams is the teeth.” Thank you, John Williams, for your artistry and for all the cinematic moments.
Running Time: Two hours 30 minutes, including one intermission.
John Williams: The 90th Birthday Gala Concert occurred June 23, 2022, at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall – 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC.
The program for the John Williams 90th Birthday Gala Concert is online here.
COVID Safety: Masks are required for all patrons inside all theaters during performances at the Kennedy Center unless actively eating or drinking. Kennedy Center’s complete COVID Safety Plan is here.
