John Wilson & Sydney Symphony Orchestra to Perform Hollywood Classics

Charismatic British conductor John Wilson will join the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for an exciting journey through the golden age of Hollywood when he takes the podium for a program of cinematic highlights from classic films such as Gone with the Wind, Ben Hur, Psycho and Casablanca.

Wilson is synonymous with The John Wilson Orchestra, formed in 1994, which specialises in recording contemporary film soundtracks and authentic concert performances of classic film musical scores. The conductor and arranger has famously recreated and resurrected many of orchestral scores belonging to famous MGM musicals that were discarded in the 1970s.

Sydney Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Andrew Haveron, who has been friends with Wilson since they met while studying at the Royal College of Music in the early 1990s, says nobody can bring to life this era of film music like this conductor.

"I've performed the Hollywood Rhapsody program with John before at the Proms and I'm looking forward to sharing this music with audiences here in Sydney," Haveron says. "These concerts will be a chance to hear music from a bygone era, as the program is essentially a potted history of film music. You don't often get to hear these pieces played live."

"The Robin Hood suite has some of my favourite music in it - I will happily play it any day of the week," Haveron adds. "And Tom and Jerry at MGM will be a blast - it's very hard and great fun!"

Details of these concerts are as follows:

Hollywood Rhapsody

Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

Thu 18 Jun, 6.30pm

Fri 17 Jun, 8pm

Sat 18 Jun, 8pm

Music from the Golden Age of Hollywood including highlights from:

RAKSIN Laura

HERRMANN Psycho, Citizen Kane

KORNGOLD The Adventures of Robin Hood

STEINER Gone With the Wind

RÓZSA Ben Hur

John Wilson conductor

Tickets: $39-$124

Channel Crossings: Ravel & Vaughan Williams

Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

Thu 23 Jun, 1.30pm

Fri 24 Jun, 8pm

Sat 25 Jun, 2pm

BAX Tintagel

RAVEL Piano Concerto in G

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS A London Symphony (Symphony No.2)

John Wilson conductor

Jonathan Biss piano

Tickets: $39-$134

Bookings through Sydney Symphony Orchestra 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday on 8215 4600 or select your own seat at: www.sydneysymphony.com

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