Legendary composer John Williams has pulled out of concerts in London and Vienna after being hospitalized due to illness.
Known for his iconic scores in films such as Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark, 86-year-old John Williams was scheduled to conduct concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra the Royal Albert Hall on Friday. However, the venue announced that John Williams had to pull out of the concert due to a last-minute illness, with Dirk Brossé replacing him as the conductor for the event.
John Williams’ manager released the following statement:
“John is so sorry that an illness prevents him from conducting Friday’s concert, and he’s grateful to his friend Maestro Dirk Brossé for taking the podium in his place. He so wishes he could be with everyone, and the knowledge that 5,000 of his friends will be joining together to celebrate his music is a great comfort to him as he recovers. He wishes everyone a very joyous evening of music.”
John Williams’ concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra on November 3rd and 4th have been canceled.
The acclaimed composer is currently set to compose to score for the final chapter of the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
Directed by J. J. Abrams, Episode IX stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams. Carrie Fisher will appear as General Leia Organa through the use of previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Episode IX will be released in theaters on December 19, 2019.
Source: BBC
