John Williams delights fans with a medley of hits at Star Wars Celebration

entertainment
John Williams Delights Fans With A Medley Of Hits At Star Wars Celebration
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Premiere – London, © PA Archive/PA Images
Share this article

By Mike Bedigan, PA Los Angeles Correspondent

John Williams delighted fans with the first ever live performance of the Obi-Wan Kenobi theme music and a medley of his other hits on the opening day of Disney’s Star Wars Celebration.

The legendary composer, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, was joined on stage by a full orchestra, and thanked audiences for “putting magic” into the event.

Advertisement

Williams is the mastermind behind world-famous scores including Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones, the theme tune to which he also played.

 

Advertisement

Following the performance, he was joined by veteran actor Harrison Ford who said it was a “special honour” to be able to wish Williams happy birthday in person.

Ford, who stars in both the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, told the composer the theme to the latter “follows me everywhere I go.”

“It’s a special honour for me to be able to congratulate John on his 90th birthday,” he said.

Advertisement
Star Wars: The Force Awakens European Premiere – London
Harrison Ford joined John Williams on stage (Anthony Devlin/PA)

He continued: “We all know about what John does musically … what I have come to appreciate is the warmth, the generosity, the boyish spirit of this man.

“The wonderful, wonderful talent of this man that we are all blessed with.”

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, who also appeared at the opening ceremony, said there were “no words to capture” what Williams’ musical contributions had meant to generations

Advertisement

“For the past four decades John Williams has created the score to our lives,” she said, to cheers from the audience.

Audiences were also treated to multiple teaser trailers to upcoming Disney+ shows and are due to be given an exclusive screening of the first two episodes of the new Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries on Thursday evening.

Obi-Wan Kenobi photocall – London
Hayden Christensen, Moses Ingram and Ewan McGregor, at a photo call ahead of the release of Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ian West/PA)

Advertisement

Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen were reunited onstage to promote the series, with Christensen admitting that there was “nothing like” picking up a lightsabre again.

The Obi-Wan Kenobi panel was introduced by a live choir who sang Duel Of The Fates from The Phantom Menace.

Disney’s Star Wars Celebration takes place at Anaheim Convention Centre, in California, and runs until Sunday.

Read More

Message submitting... Thank you for waiting.

Want us to email you top stories each lunch time?

Download our Apps
© BreakingNews.ie 2024, developed by Square1 and powered by PublisherPlus.com