Film music by John Williams

John Williams can “tell stories without images, through the sheer power of his music”, says Bruno Delepelaire, 1st principal cellist of the Berliner Philharmoniker. As in 2021, when the film music legend himself conducted the orchestra, Delepelaire is once again a soloist in this concert – this time in the melancholy music of the geisha Sayuri.

John Williams, who celebrated his 93rd birthday in February 2025, was recently nominated for an Oscar for his music for the Steven Spielberg film The Fabelmans and for the finale of the Indiana Jones series – for the 53rd and 54th time respectively. The most coveted trophy in the film world has been awarded since 1929, meaning that Williams has been on the list of candidates for more than half of all awards ceremonies. This time, the Philharmonie Berlin will showcase pieces from the soundtracks to Star Wars, Jaws and E.T. Director Steven Spielberg was so delighted with Williams’s composition for the story of the friendly alien that he even based the final scene in his screenplay on the music – in other words, he completely reversed the usual sequence. A fugue from Jaws demonstrates the composer’s magical mastery not only of modern music, but also of the traditional techniques of European art music. And, of course, a concert of Williams’s music would not be the same without excerpts from the both magical and powerful score to Harry Potter.

French conductor Stéphane Denève, who is currently music director of the St Louis Symphony Orchestra, conducts the concert. His closeness to John Williams was particularly evident when he conducted the gala concert celebrating the composer’s 90th birthday in Washington D.C. in 2022.

Berliner Philharmoniker

Stéphane Denève

Bruno Delepelaire