John Williams & Saito Kinen Orchestra John Williams in Tokyo 180g Japanese Import 2LP

The 'Deutsche Grammophon 125th Anniversary Special Gala Concert' was held at Suntory Hall on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

Appearing on the Japanese stage as conductor for the first time in almost 30 years at this concert was legendary composer/conductor John Williams, who has been a front-runner in Hollywood film music for over 50 years, winning five Academy Awards, 25 Grammy® Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and other brilliant awards.

Performed by the Saito Kinen Orchestra, one of Japan's proudest world-class orchestras, which plays a central role in the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival along with its general director, conductor Seiji Ozawa.

Also conducting in the first half of the program was Stephane Deneve, world-renowned conductor and longtime friend of John Williams, who is Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director of the New World Symphony Orchestra, and will also become Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in 2023.

This 2LP set (heavyweight vinyl) includes 11 tracks, including "Superman March" from the movie Superman, and music from Harry Potter and Star Wars, the latter half of which John Williams himself performed under the baton, and the encore performance of "Raiders March" from the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, as well as the world premiere bonus track "Tributes! (for Seiji)" as a bonus track, for a total of 12 songs.