John Williams: 'Legacy'

Undoubtedly one of the finest composers for the cinema, John Williams is celebrated on a new album, including music from ‘Schindlers List’, ‘ET’ and ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ as well as memorable themes for the ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Star Wars’ franchises.

These are landmark recordings that bring the images of the cinema into your home. The album opens with the Main Title from Star Wars: A New Hope, performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

John Williams Legacy contains some of the most recognisable music of the 20th Century, including Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, performed by the Berlin Philharmonic.

The Vienna and Berlin orchestras have always recorded some of the finest film music and there are examples of their best work here. For me, though, the crowning glory of John Williams’s compositions is here, albeit in a different version from the original: the Theme from ‘Schindler’s List’ featuring Anne-Sophie Mutter and The Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles.

The ‘John Williams Legacy’ album is available now on Decca Records