BSO — 2026/01/24

 This week the "E Pluribus Unum" series turns to music of John Williams, some from movies and some "serious." Here's how WCRB describes the program: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2026-01-24/the-bso-celebrates-john-williams-with-emanuel-ax-and-gil-shaham

Saturday, January 24, 2026
8:00 PM

To celebrate one of America’s greatest and most expansive composers, Andris Nelsons leads an all-John Williams program! Pianist Emanuel Ax performs the Boston premiere of Williams’s Piano Concerto, and violinist Gil Shaham is the soloist in TreeSong and the Theme from “Schindler’s List," part of a program that also includes music from “Catch Me if You Can” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”

Andris Nelsons, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
Gil Shaham, violin 

All-John WILLIAMS program
"Joy Ride" from Escapades
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra
TreeSong, for violin and orchestra
Theme from Schindler’s List
Suite from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

The BSO program performance page is a bit more expansive, including links to performer bios but unfortunately none to program notes for the selections: https://www.bso.org/events/jan-22-25-john-williams-prog?performance=2026-01-24-20%3A00

Boston Symphony Orchestra Andris Nelsons, conductor Emanuel Ax, piano Gil Shaham, Violin All-John WILLIAMS program  “Joy Ride” from EscapadesPiano Concerto      intermissionTreeSong, for violin and orchestra Theme from Schindler’s ListSuite from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Considered among the greatest film composers of all time, Boston Pops Conductor Laureate and longtime BSO family member John Williams is also known for his concert works. His new Piano Concerto, composed for Emanuel Ax, received its premiere at Tanglewood in summer 2025. Violinist Gil Shaham gave the world premiere of TreeSong with the BSO and Williams at Tanglewood in 2000; the piece was inspired by dawn redwood trees in Boston’s Public Garden and Arnold Arboretum. Shaham also plays the poignant Schindler’s Listtheme, and other music from Williams’s film scores begins and ends the program.

So far the Globe hasn't published a review. There is a fairly lengthy and favorable one in the Intelligencer. https://www.classical-scene.com/2026/01/23/williams-smiles/

Weather and other circumstance held me back from attending on Thursday or Friday, so I have no observations of my own to add. I'll be listening this evening, with particular interest in the piano concerto, although it should all be good.