Williams, John: Star Wars (extracts)

On 08 June 2010, the Wiener Philharmoniker treats its namesake city to a free open-air concert on the grounds of the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace

In keeping with the Summer Night Concert’s popular character, Franz Welser-Möst will conduct the Wiener Philharmoniker in a programme of universal, indeed, one might say, cosmic appeal. Its title: “Moon – Planets – Stars”. This theme will be reflected throughout the concert with Josef Strauss’s waltz Sphärenklänge (Music of the Spheres), “Mars” from Holst’s Planets, selections from John Williams’s score to the Hollywood sci-fi classic Star Wars, Otto Nicolai´s “Moon Chorus” from The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Joseph Lanner’s waltz Abendsterne (Evening Stars), a fantastic piece here receiving its first recording by the Wiener Philharmoniker. Liszt’s bravura, but also highly poetic, Second Piano Concerto represents the only “down-to-earth” piece in the concert, with Yefim Bronfman the soloist.

Schönbrunn and its manicured Baroque gardens comprise one of the most elegant and beautiful UNESCO world cultural heritage sites. No more fitting backdrop for glorious music is imaginable.