Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

Radio 2,12 mins

The Alternative John Williams

Sunday Night is Music Night

Available for over a year

In the interval feature actor Ian McDiarmid – Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars films – looks at the alternative John Williams, shining a light on the composer's early Hollywood work, his lesser known – but no less acclaimed – film scores, and his conducting work with the Boston Pops. With contributions from friends, colleagues and peers including Andre Previn, Keith Lockhart and Rob Marshall, Ian will show that there’s more to the work of John Williams than just sharks, spaceships and sorcery.

Programme Website
More episodes