Coming Soon: 'Anne-Sophie Mutter and John Williams: Across the Stars'

© 2019 Deutsche Grammophon

On August 30, Deutsche Grammophon, the classical music label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG), will release Anne-Sophie Mutter and John Williams: Across the Stars, a collection of 12 movie themes composed by John Williams and performed by German violin virtuoso Anne Sophie Mutter with the Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles.

This unique collaboration between the dean of modern film score composition and one of the world's foremost violinists is the result of a long-time mutual appreciation and a friendship that began when Mutter was married to the late composer and conductor Andre Previn. Anne-Sophie had been a fan of Maestro Williams' movie music since she was a teen living in Germany's Schwarzwald region when George Lucas's Star Wars (1977) was one of the few distractions for young residents of that beautiful but rural area.

Per Deutsche Grammophon's website:

“There is only one John Williams,” says Anne-Sophie Mutter. “What he writes is just extraordinary. Every time I go to one of his films and there is a violin or cello, I think, I would like to play that! And now I have his wonderful translations of all these iconic themes.”

 John Williams adds: “Working with Anne-Sophie on this recording has been a pure inspiration. She has brought vibrant life to these familiar themes in new and unexpected ways, which has been a great joy for me as a composer.”


Although this might seem like just another "cover" album of John Williams' film music, there's a twist that makes Across the Stars a must-get recording for listeners of classical music and Williams aficionados alike: the 12 selections were personally rearranged by the composer with Mutter in mind.

Again, per Deutsche Grammophon's announcement:


Legendary film composer John Williams conducts a brand-new album of many of his beloved movie themes in stunning new adaptations written especially for his superstar violinist friend and collaborator Anne-Sophie Mutter. 

Mutter first performed the new arrangement title track, Across the Stars (Love Theme from Attack of the Clones) two years ago. In this new recording, she reprises that performance, this time under the baton of Williams himself and accompanied by the 70-piece Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles, an ensemble organized by the maestro to perform some of his new film scores now that it's difficult for the 87-year-old Williams to travel to Great Britain to record with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Tracklist

1. Rey's Theme  3:09
2. Yoda's Theme (Bernhard Güttler, Tobias Lehmann Remix) 3:33
3. Hedwig's Theme  5:58
4. Across The Stars (Love Theme) 4:56
5. Donnybrook Fair  3:43
6. Sayuri's Theme  4:42
7. Night Journeys  5:28
8. Sabrina's Theme  5:11
9. The Duel  4:22
10. Luke And Leia  4:51
11. Nice To Be Around 3:47
12. Theme From Schindler's List  4:06
Anne-Sophie Mutter, The Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles, John Williams

Deutsche Grammophon will drop Across the Stars in a one-CD album on August 30, as well as in a 2-LP vinyl release and a digital download. Also, the label has released two tracks (Rey's Theme, Yoda's Theme) on YouTube and on Amazon Prime for fans to check out. 

Source: 

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/us/artist/mutter/