Conductor Devin Patrick Hughes sits down with author and USC musicology instructor Tim Greiving to dive into John Williams: A Composer’s Life (OUP)—the first full-scale biography of the world’s most beloved film composer. Greiving traces a lifelong fandom that began with a Jurassic Park cassette, then details the five-year journey of the book: 5:30 a.m. writing rituals, a year of archival research, and rare long-form conversations with Williams at the Amblin bungalow. Together they explore Williams’ jazz and Great American Songbook roots, his Brahms-leaning aesthetic, and how he revived—and refined—the classic Hollywood symphonic tradition with Spielberg and Star Wars. You’ll hear why Greiving calls Williams “closer to a church composer,” how the E.T. finale let the music lead picture, why the orchestra is truly timeless, and the astonishing revelation about Williams’ grandfather, Thomas Nagel, a silent-era cinema music director. Close with a lightning round on favorite themes, underrated scores, and the one word that captures John Williams.

Featured music: Star Wars Main Title • “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” (arr. JW) • Jurassic Park Theme • “Baubles, Bangles, and Beads” (JW Trio) • “Hatikvah” from Munich • “Luke & Leia” • The Quiet Man Main Title • Seven Years in Tibet Main Theme (w/ Yo-Yo Ma) • Superman Main Theme • Schindler’s List Theme (Itzhak Perlman) • Piano Concerto No. 1 (Ax/BSO) • Violin Concerto No. 2: II “Rounds” (Mutter/BSO) • “Harry’s Wondrous World” • “Adventures on Earth” (VPO) • “Flight to Neverland” (VPO) • Close Encounters excerpts (VPO) • “Hedwig’s Theme” • “Flying” (E.T.) • “Throne Room & Finale” (Berlin Phil)

In the second half of a special two part conversation, conductor Devin Patrick Hughes speaks with broadcaster and author John Suchet in Part 2 of a special two-part One Symphony series on Beethoven, based on Suchet’s new book In Search of Beethoven: A Personal Journey.

This episode explores Beethoven’s life in Vienna — his patrons, performance venues, and independence as a composer. We also dive into his personal struggles, including his court battle for custody of his nephew Karl and his gradual onset of deafness, described as the “worst fate for a musician.”

Through it all, Beethoven’s music speaks of resilience and triumph. Suchet reminds us: “If I can overcome what I had, the worst fate that can befall a musician, you too can overcome.”

Featured Music Includes:

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto No 22 in E-flat Major, K. 482 I. Allegro. Performed by the English Chamber Orchestra featuring Murray Perahia on piano.
• Ludwig van Beethoven composed the rest of the featured music in this episode.
• Cello Sonata No 3 in A, Op. 69 II. Scherzo (Allego Molto). Performed by Mstislav Rostropovich on cello and Sviatoslav Richter on piano.
• Symphony No 3 Eroica in E-flat Major, Op. 55. I. Allegro con brio. Performed live by the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sergiu Celibidache.
• Muzik zu einem Ritterballet (Music for a ballet of Knights), WoO 3. Jagdlied (Hunting Song), 6. Trinklied (Drinking Song), 4. Romanze (Romance). Performed by the Staatskapelle Berlin, conducted by Günther Herbig.
• Symphony No 5. I. Allegro con brio. Performed by the Weiner Philharmoniker conducted by Carlos Kleiber.
• Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major, Op. 106 Hammerklavier. IV. Largo allegro resoluto. Performed live by Tatiana Nikolayeva.
• Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral": I. Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande. Allegro ma non troppo Performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Herbert von Karajan.
• Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral": II. Szene am Bach. Andante molto mosso. Performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Herbert von Karajan.
• Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral": III. Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute. Allegro. Performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Herbert von Karajan.
• Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral": IV. Gewitter, Sturm. Allegro. Performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Herbert von Karajan.
• Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral": V. Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm. Allegretto. Performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Herbert von Karajan.
• Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat Major Op. 81a “Les Adiuex” I. Das Lebewohl, Adagio-Allegro. Performed by Tatiana Nikolayeva.
• Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight:” III. Presto agitato. Performed by Emil Gilels.
• Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No 2. “Tempest”: III. Allegretto. Performed by Alfred Brendel.
• Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101. I. Etwas lebhaft, und mit der innigsten Empfindung. Performed by Emil Gilels.

In this first half of a special two-part conversation, Devin Patrick Hughes speaks with broadcaster and author John Suchet about Beethoven’s beginnings in Bonn, his precocious childhood on the Rhine, his mentors and patrons, and the myths surrounding his father and early works. Together, they explore Beethoven’s revolutionary ideas, his first “unplayable” compositions, and the legendary (and mysterious) meeting with Mozart. Along the way, Suchet shares insights from his new book, In Search of Beethoven: A Personal Journey, and we hear the music that shaped the young Beethoven and echoed throughout his career.

Featured Music All works composed by Ludwig van Beethoven, unless noted.

• Große Fuge, Op. 133 — Artemis Quartet (live, Paris 2001)

• Musik zu einem Ritterballet, WoO 1: No. 8 Coda — Günther Herbig & Staatskapelle Berlin (1971)

• Quartet WoO 36 No. 3 in C Major: I. Allegro Vivace — Christoph Eschenbach, Norbert Brainin, Peter Schidlof, Martin Lovett

• Sonatina in E-flat Major WoO 47, Kurfürstensonate No. 1 — Jörg Demus

• Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II, WoO 87 — Reetta Haavisto, Juha Kotilainen, Leif Segerstam, Turku Philharmonic, Chorus Cathedralis Aboensis

• Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77: II. Adagio — Johannes Brahms, Itzhak Perlman, Chicago Symphony, Carlo Maria Giulini

• “Aria de Florestan: Gott!” from Fidelio — Jonas Kaufmann, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

• 12 Variations on “Se vuol ballare”, WoO 40 — Yehudi Menuhin & Wilhelm Kempff

For more information on John Suchet, see https://www.johnsuchet.co.uk. You can find his most recent book In Search of Beethoven, A Personal Journey where ever books are sold.

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