In Tuesday’s (11/11) Los Angeles Times, Josh Rottenberg writes, “For generations of Angelenos, summer at the Hollywood Bowl meant John Williams on the podium, lightsabers glowing in the crowd as he led the Los Angeles Philharmonic through ‘Star Wars,’ ‘E.T.’ and ‘Indiana Jones.’ Now 93 … Williams still looms over the Bowl each summer, his music echoing through the amphitheater, played by the orchestra he helped make synonymous with Hollywood. That bond has been made official. The Los Angeles Philharmonic will announce Tuesday that it is naming the venue’s stage for Williams … It’s hard to imagine a more fitting choice. Few composers have left a deeper imprint on Hollywood, or on the collective imagination … The honor was celebrated Sunday morning in a private ceremony at the Bowl attended by Williams, [Steven] Spielberg, [George] Lucas and L.A. Phil music and artistic director Gustavo Dudamel. The orchestra’s brass ensemble performed the composer’s ‘Music for Brass,’ violinist Anne Akiko Meyers and pianist Joanne Pearce Martin played his Theme from ‘Sabrina,’ and speakers reflected on Williams’ six-decade partnership with the orchestra and the Bowl. A short tribute video chronicled his influence across generations of musicians and audiences worldwide.”
