Mid-Summer 2024 Issue

“IMPERIAL ATTACK.” “PRINCESS Leia’s Theme.” “The Land of the Sand People.” The titles alone are enough to invoke the soaring melodies, magisterial harmonies, and martial rhythms of John Williams’ score to George Lucas’s 1977 film Star Wars (later rereleased as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope). Williams’ musical leitmotivs for Princess Leia, Ben “Obi-Wan” Kenobi, and Darth Vader were as memorable as the characters themselves, and not surprisingly, the soundtrack became the best-selling symphonic album of all time. On July 28-29, the Houston Symphony presents a special screening of Star Wars, its dialogue and revolutionary Foley sounds intact, and all of the film’s musical cues performed live under the baton of guest conductor Nicholas Buc.