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Orchestra Keeps It Reel In March

Florida Orchestra

Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman will lead the Florida Orchestra through an evening of John Williams' best-loved movie scores, including pieces from "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Star Wars," "E.T.," "Jaws," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Superman," "Schindler’s List," "Empire of the Sun," "Hook" and more.

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By KATHY L. GREENBERG

Tribune correspondent

Published: March 2, 2009

John Williams has written some of the most memorable scores in movie history. After the big shark, T. rex, UFO and Darth Vader, it's his music that reminds us of "Jaws," "Jurassic Park," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Star Wars." This month, the Florida Orchestra pays tribute to the master composer in "The Always Amazing John Williams," with Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman.

In the past 20-plus years, Kaufman has composed, played and conducted music for the stage and screen. He's coached some of the biggest names in Hollywood and was nominated for two Emmy Awards. He has also worked personally with Williams, allowing him the right to call the man "the greatest living composer of film music."

"[Williams] knows how to use a symphony orchestra better than any conductor around," Kaufman said in a telephone interview from his home in California. "When people see movies, his melodies stay with them and remind them of that time in their life."

Case in point: After watching "Jaws," people thought twice before swimming in the ocean again.
Thankfully, not all of Williams' scores are that scary; his extraordinary versatility has helped him capture every mood, from excitement to mystery to romance. In addition to "Jaws," the program includes themes from "Superman," "E.T.," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Far and Away," "Hook" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Having spent so many years creating music for motion pictures and television, the Pops conductor is in the unique position to share some juicy anecdotes.

"When we were recording 'Jaws,' one of the violinists was playing and glancing at the screen watching the film. The scene was so frightening that she actually stopped playing and covered her eyes," Kaufman recalled.

He had an especially good time playing violin for "Animal House." Kaufman said that they would replay a scene with the music after each take. The musicians cracked up every time.

But for "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," the orchestra performed in the dark.

"During the recording sessions, the actual visuals were not shown. [The director and producers] wanted to keep it a surprise," said Kaufman.

CONCERT PREVIEW

The Always Amazing John Williams

WHAT: Pops program with conductor Richard Kaufman

WHEN AND WHERE: 8 p.m. March 27 at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Ferguson Hall, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa; 8 p.m., March 28 at Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg; 7:30 p.m., March 29 at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater

TICKETS: $19 to $65; call 1-800-662-7286 or go to www.floridaorchestra.org

More in March:

• Verdi's "Requiem": The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay will join Master Director Stefan Sanderling to perform Verdi's most ambitious work; 8 p.m. Saturday at Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg; 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; $19-$65

• "Romantic Rhapsodies": Conductor Alastair Willis will lead the first movement of Grieg's Piano Concerto with pianist Aza Torshkoeva, plus music by Glinka and Khachaturian; 11 a.m. Thursday at Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg; $24-$40

• Doc Severinsen: "El Ritmo de la Vida" ("The Rhythm of Life") features trumpet king Doc Severinsen, the former band leader for Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show," along with guitarist Gil Gutierrez and violinist Pedro Cartas, performing gypsy jazz, Latin and Spanish tunes, and a touch of pop; 8 p.m. March 13 at Ferguson Hall, Performing Arts Center, Tampa; 8 p.m. March 14 at Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg; $19-$65

• Ravel's "Mother Goose": Guest conductor Thierry Fischer and Albanian violinist Tedi Papavrami will perform Dutilleux's "Tree of Dreams." Ravel's "Mother Goose Suite" and Franck's "Symphony in D Minor" will complete the program; 8 p.m. March 20 at Ferguson Hall, Performing Arts Center, Tampa; 7:30 p.m. March 22 at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; $19-$65

The Florida Orchestra is participating in a national food drive organized by the League of American Orchestras. During the month of March, the orchestra will accept canned food donations at the concert halls on behalf of Tampa Bay Harvest.

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