This August, Auckland Philharmonia celebrates the extraordinary legacy of a film score superstar in JBWere presents: The Magic of John Williams, a concert featuring the greatest John Williams works in full symphonic splendour, conducted by one of the world’s foremost interpreters of Williams’ music.
There are few composers whose music can transport an audience before a single word is spoken.
A soaring brass fanfare, and you are staring into the galaxy with Star Wars. A rush of strings, and you are flying past the moon with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
John Williams has not just scored films. He has shaped the emotional memory of cinema itself.
Originally announced for Saturday 29 August, demand has been so strong that Auckland Philharmonia has added a second performance on Friday 28 August, giving more film music lovers the chance to experience these blockbuster scores in full orchestral force.
Held at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre, the concert promises an electrifying night of movie magic, conducted by Stéphane Denève, one of the world’s foremost interpreters of Williams’ music.
French conductor Stéphane Denève, a close friend and collaborator of Williams, will share personal insights and anecdotes from the podium as he leads the Auckland Phil through some of the composer’s greatest works.
Williams’ career spans seven decades and more than 100 film scores. His music has become inseparable from the films it helped make legendary, from the epic theme of Star Wars and the prehistoric wonder of Jurassic Park, to the swashbuckling adventure of Indiana Jones and the warmth of Harry Potter.
It is almost impossible to imagine modern cinema without him. His melodies are not simply attached to films. They are cultural shorthand for fear, hope, adventure, childhood and heroism.
For audiences who grew up with these films, The Magic of John Williams will be a chance to revisit some of the most thrilling moments in popular culture. For younger fans, it is an opportunity to hear why Williams remains unmatched: a composer whose work bridges Hollywood spectacle and classical orchestral tradition with rare elegance.
There is something especially fitting about Auckland Philharmonia presenting this music live. Williams’ scores were written for the big screen, but they were built from the full expressive power of an orchestra. They need scale. They need precision. They need musicians capable of moving from explosive action to intimate tenderness in a heartbeat, and in the hands of Auckland Philharmonia, these beloved works will be given the grandeur they deserve.
From alien encounters and wizarding worlds to man-eating monsters and intergalactic battles, The Magic of John Williams is a celebration of the composer who changed the way movies sound — and the way audiences feel.
Head to aucklandphil.nz to get your tickets!
JBWere presents: The Magic of John Williams
7.30pm, Friday 28 August
7.30pm, Saturday 29 August
Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre
