John Williams’ Violin Concerto No. 2 was written for and recorded by the venerated composer’s friend and frequent collaborator Anne-Sophie Mutter. Her impassioned world premiere performance was given with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Williams, in Tanglewood. In these series of conversations with John Williams and Anne-Sophie Mutter, the artists talk about the story behind and their thoughts about the Violin Concerto No. 2 as well as their inspiring collaboration with each other and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In Part 1, both artists go into the details of how all of this came about – from a few bars which Williams composed for Anne-Sophie Mutter through a middle movement of a concerto until a full concerto for the violin.
“I can only think of this piece as being about Anne-Sophie. I took my inspiration and energy directly from this great artist herself.” – John Williams
