Hear songs from 'Star Wars,' 'Harry Potter' at York Symphony Orchestra concert
Indiana Jones fans, dust off those wool fedoras.
Jedi wannabes – practice your lightsaber flunges.
It’s time to let your inner nerd out.
The York Symphony Orchestra is bringing out all the stops to honor the legendary film composer, John Williams, for his 85th birthday this Saturday night as the Symphony opens its 2016-2017 season at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center.
There’s “no one as iconic as John Williams,” Lawrence Golan, YSO’s director and conductor, said via phone on Tuesday. “The greatest film composer of our time is turning 85, and we want to celebrate him with great music.”
While “Stars Wars” might be the “most famous,” Golan said, his personal favorite from the set is the soundtrack from “E.T.”
“And of course, one of the most iconic pieces will be one everyone recognizes from just two notes,” Golan said, alluding to the menacing theme from “Jaws.”
And, for Stars Wars fans in attendance, Golan said there will be some “visual surprises” included in the performance.
“I won’t give anything away, but expect the unexpected,” Golan said of the “Star Wars” pieces.
Other classic movie scores that audience members are sure to enjoy are themes from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Jurassic Park,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Far And Away,” and “The Cowboys.”
There will also be some songs you’ll recognize in their entirety that are part of the collection, but not all are from movies. For example, the theme from the Olympic Games highlights is another household score that comes from Williams’ many musical contributions.
Golan hopes Saturday night’s performance won’t be the end of an intrigue between York listeners and film-inspired tributes, though. He hopes to bring an “Oscar Night” to York, an endeavor he’s had success with in other areas where audiences enjoyed scores from all of the Academy’s Best Feature winners through the years, beginning with “Gone With the Wind” and “Wizard of Oz.”
What’s ahead for the 2016-2017 season
The York Symphony Orchestra’s classical series will continue this season with the theme “A Musical Journey Through Time.”
Golan is excited to share pieces that span the world’s musical history, beginning with the baroque period, which will include works from composers of that period like Bach, Handel and Vivaldi.
The “journey” through time will also include performances spotlighting the classical period, the romantic period, 20th century hits from the Brave New World movement and modern works in “The American Dream.”
The Brave New World performance will include the ballet "Petrushka", which Golan said will be acted out by a live puppet theater during the show.
There will also be a “Dance of the Seven Veils” performed later in the season, which Golan described as “an ancient strip-tease.”
“We’ll have a troupe of belly dancers on stage who will all wear seven veils, and we’ll leave it for them to decide how many veils are still on at the end [of the performance],” Golan joked.
If you go:
What: The Music of John Williams: 85th Birthday Celebration
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24
Where: Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, 50 N. George St., York
Cost: $5 for students, $9 for adults; visit yorksymphony.org or call 717-846-1111
York Symphony Orchestra's 2016-2017 season:
A Baroque Beginning — Saturday Oct. 15
Young Person's Concert: Beethoven Lives Upstairs — Wednesday, Nov. 2 & Thursday, Nov. 3
Holiday Pops Spectacular — Saturday, Nov. 26
Classical Classics — Thursday, Jan. 21
The Romantics — Thursday, Feb. 18
Titanic — Friday, March 4
A Brave New World — Friday, March 11
The American Dream — Friday, April 1
Family Concert: NPR's From The Top — Friday, April 15
Find tickets for all York Symphony Orchestra shows at yorksymphony.org or call 717-846-1111.