When the legendary American film composer John Williams conducted the Vienna Philharmonic for the first time, Der Standard headlined its report “A Visit from God” and continued: “He was hailed by a standing, cheering ovation like God himself received by earthly disciples.” John Williams in Vienna documents this historical performance – “a very special honour” in the life of the composer.

Symphonic Hollywood sounds on the stage of the Vienna Musikverein: the world-famous orchestra plays iconic themes from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park and other milestones in film history. Star guest Anne-Sophie Mutter performs violin arrangements made especially for her by Williams himself.

Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park: the soundtracks of John Williams, the master of cinematic magic, are among the most popular in the history of film and have received numerous prestigious awards, including five Oscars, five Emmys, four Golden Globes and twenty-five Grammys. Now the legendary American film composer has recorded the most famous, beautiful and touching of his cult themes for the first time with the Vienna Philharmonic. “Star moments of film music” was the headline of the Wiener Zeitung: “Hollywood’s grandmaster and the Vienna Philharmonic thrilled audiences with excerpts from his life’s work.”

Williams’s two concerts at the Vienna Musikverein on 18 and 19 January 2020 were the first performances the composer had ever conducted in continental Europe. Working with the Vienna Philharmonic was, he said, “a very special honour” in his life. In addition to Williams and the orchestra, another exceptional artist was on stage in the first half of the concert: Anne-Sophie Mutter. Thus the conductor and the violinist continued the artistic partnership begun with their joint album Across the Stars. The new album, John Williams in Vienna, presents cult themes from E. T., Jaws, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and other milestones in film history, plus a previously unreleased violin arrangement of the Devil’s Dance from The Witches of Eastwick made by Williams for Mutter, who also played along with the first violins in the Raiders March from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Of course, the world-famous Imperial March from Star Wars couldn’t be left out. “One of the best performances of this march that I have ever heard,” Williams noted.

The limited Deluxe Edition John Williams – Live in Vienna is the only version of this release that contains the unique concert experience on Blu-ray, offering six additional tracks and a breathtaking Dolby Atmos surround sound mix for the perfect concert experience at home (available in both video and audio-only versions). As a bonus, there’s an interview with Anne-Sophie Mutter and John Williams in the Vienna Musikverein. Both the standard CD and the Blu-ray disc come in a high-quality digipak in Blu-ray format with a classy “gold foil” look on the cover.