Star Wars — Film Concert Series to Feature Iconic Score Performed Live To Film
The New York Philharmonic will present the World Premiere of the Star Wars — Film Concert Series featuring screenings of the complete films A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and The Force Awakens with Oscar-winning composer John Williams’ musical scores performed live to the films. The concerts will be led by acclaimed conductor David Newman.
Since the release of the first Star Wars movie nearly 40 years ago, the Star Wars saga has had a seismic impact on both cinema and culture, inspiring audiences around the world with its mythic storytelling, captivating characters, groundbreaking special effects and iconic musical scores composed by Williams.
Fans will be able to experience the scope and grandeur of these beloved Star Wars films in a live symphonic concert experience, as the Star Wars — Film Concert Series premieres from September 15 through October 7 at David Geffen Hall in New York City. The schedule is below:
Sept. 15, 8:00pm Concert – A New Hope (world premiere)
Sept. 16, 8:00pm Concert – A New Hope
Sept. 26, 7:30 pm Concert – The Empire Strikes Back (world premiere)
Sept. 27, 7:30pm Concert – The Empire Strikes Back
Sept. 28, 7:30pm Concert – The Empire Strikes Back
Oct. 4, 7:30pm Concert – Return of the Jedi (world premiere)
Oct. 5, 7:30pm Concert – Return of the Jedi
Oct. 6, 8:00pm Concert – The Force Awakens (world premiere)
Oct. 7, 8:00pm Concert – The Force Awakens
Legendary composer Williams is well known for scoring all seven of the Star Wars saga films, beginning with 1977’s Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) for which he earned an Academy Award for Best Original Score. His scores for Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens each were nominated for Oscars for Best Original Score.
Williams has won five Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, seven British Academy Film Awards, and 22 Grammy Awards. With 50 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the Academy’s most nominated living person and the second most-nominated individual in history, after Walt Disney. In 2005, the American Film Institute selected Williams’ score to 1977’s Star Wars as the greatest American film score of all time. The soundtrack to Star Wars also was preserved by the Library of Congress in the National Recording Registry, for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Williams was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl’s Hall of Fame in 2000, and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004, the National Medal of Arts in 2009, and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2016. Williams has composed the scores for eight of the top 20 highest-grossing films at the U.S. box office (adjusted for inflation).