John Williams at 80: A Classic FM Interview Special

Don't miss your chance to hear this special two-hour programme celebrating the career of the film music legend John Williams, who turned 80 in 2012. He talks about everything from Star Wars and Schindler's List to what he thinks film music will sound like in the future.

John Williams spoke to Classic FM in a career retrospective interview that was broadcast on 27 August 2012. Williams spoke to film music expert Tommy Pearson exclusively about his life and work, from composing the music for E.T. (“It was very difficult to get the music right…”) to working with Alfred Hitchcock and Steven Spielberg.

In the generous interview, John Williams talks candidly about the writing process and what it was like creating scores for some of the biggest and most iconic movies of all time. He also reveals his anxieties about his creativity, commenting: “It’s my character to never to be completely satisfied and always be at least 10% insecure about whether I have got the things right.”

He also spoke fondly about composing the scores to Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List at the same time, why more opera composers should have written sequels and why he still writes with paper and pencil. Offering a summary of his life and work, he added: “I am really one of the most fortunate people on Earth.”

It's a fascinating programme, packed full of all your favourite film scores. Tune in from 7pm on 27th December.