John Williams

One of the most versatile and respected guitarists in the world, John Williams has explored, expanded and personally inspired a modern renaissance for the classical guitar through his international concert appearances and best-selling recordings. When he made his first appearances in the United States some forty years ago, Williams signed an exclusive contract with CBS Masterworks, which is now Sony Classical.

Many of his recordings for the label, including John Williams Plays Vivaldi Concertos, The Seville Concert and the solo album Iberia, are best-sellers. His most recent album, The Magic Box, is a collection of beautiful, accessible melodies from different parts of Africa played by John Williams and other musicians including an African chorus and vocalists. Highlights of his discography include a coupling of an early nineteenth-century guitar concerto by Italian composer Mauro Giuliani with an arrangement of Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata; Classic Williams - Romance of the Guitar, a collection of some of John Willliams' greatest performances; The Guitarist, which features Williams as composer as well as soloist; The Black Decameron, a disc of guitar music by Cuban composer Leo Brouwer; The Mantis & the Moon, a duet recording with guitarist Timothy Kain; and John Williams Plays the Movies, an album of popular film themes in arrangements for guitar and orchestra.

Williams has a long history of noteworthy collaborations, and those with Julian Bream, Itzhak Perlman, André Previn, Cleo Laine and John Dankworth have been particularly fruitful. He has also been involved with the groups SKY, John Williams and Friends, Attacca, The National Youth Jazz Orchestra with Paul Hart, the Chilean group Inti-Illimani and separate collaborations with Paco Peña and Richard Harvey. In addition, the guitarist's talents have stimulated many composers to write for him, including Stephen Dodgson, André Previn, Peter Sculthorpe, Steve Gray, Richard Harvey and Paul Hart.

Williams' performing activities continue unabated. In 2000, Williams toured the Pacific Rim with performances of both concertos and recitals in Hong Kong and Beijing. In March 2000 he performed with Inti-Illimani and Paco Peña in Europe, and in May he played in Cuba for the first time.

John Williams was born in Melbourne, Australia, where he was taught the guitar by his father. Later he attended summer courses with Segovia at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy, and studied music at the Royal College of Music in London. By the early 1960s he had performed in London, Paris, Madrid, Japan, Russia and the United States. He has since toured many countries giving recitals, performing with orchestras and appearing regularly on radio and television.

>> Associated Links:
John Williams, Official Website