Listening to the Olympic Fanfare and Theme conducted by a spritely 89-year-old man, you’d be forgiven for wondering who the real sportsman is. A top athlete or this valiant conductor? For the first time in his life, John Williams conducted the Berliner Philharmoniker. The concert began with the theme Williams composed for the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Perusing the Berlin Concert programme, you’ll notice that it’s not just this epic piece that centres on self-esteem, unwavering effort and innate talent. In fact, many of the soundtracks Williams has composed focus on the very same ideas. Whether he’s working on films depicting the magical gifts of a young orphan (Harry Potter and the Philosophy’s Stone) or a superhero with superhuman strength (Superman), it seems the exceptional longevity of the American musician’s glistening career could be the subject of a film for which he himself would compose the soundtrack. Other works – which Williams rarely plays in concert – also handle topics such as overcoming your demons: Far and Away’s novelistic and spirited soundtrack accompanies the trials of two Irish men on their quest to achieve their American dream. Meanwhile, the modern and atonal music from Close Encounters of the Third Kind sheds a strange light on the faith of a handful of men who believe in an otherworldly civilisation. Of course, this album also includes John Williams’ greatest hits, from the heroic Indiana Jones soundtrack to the Imperial March from Star Wars and the lyrical melodies from E.T. and Jurassic Park. With this guest conductor, the Berliner Philharmoniker adds colour to its palette. The result? Music that’s inspiring, exciting and well-received. © Nicolas Magenham/Qobuz