Composer paints a picture of a thousand words

John Williams and Friends was the title of Sunday afternoon’s concert by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, but you could easily knock off the “s” in “friends”. Pivotal to the concert’s success was the music written in collaboration with director Steven Spielberg, one of cinema’s greatest partnerships. Then, many film-goers will have more than a nodding acquaintance with Williams’ music due to his intuitive knack of capturing the essence of the film’s story-line so maybe the plural form does fit.

The ominous bass throbbing of the theme from Jaws, the heroic portrayal of Indiana Jones or the pathos of Saving Private Ryan. Magnificent movies given extra gloss by Williams’ superb scores.

Hearing that music in the cinema is treat in itself but being performed live by a full orchestra – and conducted by a man who knows the music almost as well as the composer – gives it an added dimension.

Thus, the RSNO and conductor Richard Kaufman gave 1500 or so of an audience a cinematic treat.

What caught me about Sunday’s concert in the Caird Hall, Dundee, was the mix, with well-known melodies combined with the unknown.

ET and Star Wars – through which Williams stamped his credentials – alternated with more modern film scores, some of which were given special permission to perform. Of these, the main theme from Always, the brilliantly jazzy Closing In from Catch Me If You Can and the swash-buckling Duel from Tintin emphasised the composer’s versatility and ability to switch palettes at the drop of a hat.

Individually, each piece lasted no more than 10 minutes, but in that short space of time, Williams paints a picture of a thousand words with beautiful, captivating orchestral construction.

There were other “friends” in the shape of Henry Mancini and Maurice Jarre but it was the Williams/ Spielberg show – and what a show it was!

One is accustomed to the RSNO in normal circumstances, but in this genre they are undoubtedly a class act.

If Williams had been in the audience, he would have been extremely chuffed at their performance. And that is something of an understatement.

Magnificent movies given extra gloss by Williams’ superb scores