Dolby Provides John Williams Concert With Special Audio Experience

August 25, 2020

Dolby and leading classical music record label Deutsche Grammophon have released of a special audio experience of legendary composer John Williams and the Wiener Philharmoniker’s seminal performance – John Williams Live in Vienna – mixed in immersive Dolby Atmos sound.

Williams’ film scores span an impressive catalogue and have earned countless prestigious awards, including five Oscars, five Emmys, four Golden Globes and twenty-five Grammys. His work includes soundtracks for films such as the entire Stars Wars saga, the Indiana Jones movies, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, and the first three films of the Harry Potter series, to name just a few.

In what was Williams’ continental Europe conducting debut, he was joined on stage at the world-renowned Vienna Musikverein by the Wiener Philharmoniker, as well as globally renowned violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter for performances of classic Williams’ scores that had been specially adapted for her. These included “Hedwig’s Theme” from the Harry Potter films, “Devil’s Dance” from The Witches of Eastwick and the Theme from Sabrina.

The concert was recorded and mixed in Dolby Atmos by Bernhard Güttler.

John Williams commented: “Performing at such a prestigious venue as the Musikverein with the magnificent Wiener Philharmoniker and the incomparable Anne-Sophie Mutter was a very great privilege indeed. I’m delighted that listeners will be able to share that experience through the special technology of Dolby Atmos.”

John Couling, Senior Vice President, Commercial Partnerships, Dolby Laboratories added: “John Williams is undoubtedly one of the greatest film composers of all time and for him to have performed with the world-renowned Wiener Philharmoniker at what many consider the home of classical music is an unmissable spectacle. We’re thrilled to present this once-in-a-lifetime concert in Dolby Atmos for fans around the world – ensuring they can enjoy it as though they are sitting in the best seat in the house, any time they like.”

Dolby Atmos Music is an immersive music experience that adds more space and depth to audio. It allows people to connect with their favourite music in a whole new way, pulling listeners into a song and revealing what was lost with stereo recordings. Listeners can discover hidden details and subtleties with unparalleled clarity.

Clemens Trautmann, President, Deutsche Grammophon said: “As the label that was founded by the inventor of the Gramophone, Deutsche Grammophon has always embraced technological innovation. Building on the long tradition of our engineers, who produced multi-track and quadrophonic recordings in the 1970s and 1980s, Deutsche Grammophon was the first label to create Dolby Atmos mixes of entire symphony cycles starting in 2017. There are so many wonderful details and spatial effects in classical music that are lost in the standard stereo mix, but which are brought to life through the Dolby Atmos technology, adding another dimension to the listening experience. The ‘John Williams in Vienna’ album is a perfect showcase for that: the world’s most renowned film music composer with one of the top orchestras in the fabled acoustics of Musikverein.”

Read More:
https://www.mesalliance.org/2020/08/25/dolby-provides-john-williams-concert-with-special-audio-experience-mesa/