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    The music to Schindler's List

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    John Williams facts: Movie scores, family, age and awards

    Liam Neeson Schindler's List Oscar John Williams

    12. The music to Schindler's List

    Considered by many to be the finest film score of recent decades, Schindler's List followed hot on the heels of Spielberg and Williams' collaboration on Jurassic Park - and it couldn't be more different. When he first saw the film, the composer told the director: 'You need a better composer than I am for this film.' Spielberg replied, 'I know. But they're all dead!' For the soundtrack Williams, following Spielberg's suggestion, hired the great violinist Itzhak Perlman. The film's main theme, played with such passion and emotional intensity by Perlman, is heartbreakingly simple and touching. For Schindler's List, Williams won his fifth Oscar.

    1. Image 1: John Williams Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
    2. Image 2: John Williams education
    3. Image 3: John Williams awards
    4. Image 4: John Williams Henry Mancini Peter Gunn
    5. Image 5: John Williams and Samantha Winslow
    6. Image 6: Toto's Joseph Williams - son of John Williams
    7. Image 7: John Williams sculptor quote
    8. Image 8: John Williams Steven Spielberg
    9. Image 9: John Williams Darth Vader Chewbacca Star Wars
    10. Image 10: Indiana Jones The Raiders of the Lost Ark 15 images

    See the full gallery: John Williams facts: Movie scores, family, age and awards

    John Williams latest

    See more John Williams latest

    ‘Disclosure Day’ marks the 30th collaboration between John Williams and Steven Spielberg, in their partnership of over half a century.

    Disclosure Day: Everything you need to know about John Williams’ score

    Hildur Guðnadóttir wins Oscar for Joker

    All the Oscar-winning film scores from the last 60 years

    Oscars

    John Williams and Spielberg reunite for new UFO epic

    John Williams, 93, to score Spielberg’s UFO epic as the duo reunite for their 30th film

    Why Coldplay open their world tour concerts with John Williams’ E.T. theme?

    Why do Coldplay open their world tour concerts with John Williams’ E.T. theme?

    Award-winning film composer John Williams ‘never liked film music very much’

    Star Wars composer John Williams says he ‘never liked film music very much’

    Jaws has been named one of the quirkiest funeral songs of the year

    ‘Jaws’ movie theme named this year’s most unusual funeral music choice

    Crowd cheers as 93-year-old John Williams debuts his first EVER piano concerto

    93-year-old John Williams gets standing ovation as he debuts his first EVER piano concerto

    Glastonbury festival gates open to a brass band playing John Williams’ Superman

    Glastonbury festival gates open to a brass band playing John Williams’ Superman!

    When Tom Cruise came on set, Simon Pegg and ‘The Final Reckoning’ cast had the Mission Impossible theme in their head

    Simon Pegg: ‘We sang the Mission Impossible theme a lot in the cast. Whenever Tom walks on set!’

    Discover Music

    Best World War II film scores: Atonement, Saving Private Ryan, The Imitation Game

    10 of the greatest Second World War movie soundtracks

    Discover Music

    Best classical music

    See more Best classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    Discover Music

    Best symphonies: Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonin Dvorak and Florence Price

    The 15 greatest symphonies of all time

    Discover Music

    4 eras of classical music

    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

    Discover Music

    A young Marin Alsop, Sir Simon Rattle, and Seiji Ozawa conduct their respective orchestras.

    The 25 greatest conductors of all time

    Discover Music

    Hildegard von Bingen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Edward Elgar among the greatest composers in classical music history.

    The 30 greatest classical music composers of all time

    Latest on Classic FM

    Captain of France’s national football team, Kylian Mbappé, played flute in school.

    Meet France’s flute-playing football captain, Kylian Mbappé

    Discover Music

    Curious cat interrupts ballet performance of Romeo and Juliet

    Romeow, romeow! Curious cat wanders on stage, interrupts ballet performance

    Discover Music

    Tony Iommi and Patrick Doyle lead the musical recognitions in the King’s birthday honours.

    Patrick Doyle and Tony Iommi lead musical recognitions in King’s birthday honours

    Randy Newman appears on stage for a duet with Taylor Swift at the Hollywood premiere of Toy Story 5.

    Randy Newman plays surprise ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’ at Toy Story 5 premiere

    Discover Music

    A new report has revealed the shocking effect Brexit has had on the UK music and creative industries.

    One in four UK musicians has lost all EU work since 2021, says new report

    Leo Woodall plays a piano prodigy-turned-tuner in new film ‘Tuner’, also starring Dustin Hoffman and Havana Rose Liu.

    Does Leo Woodall really play piano in ‘Tuner’?

    Discover Music

    Aled Jones to present Classic FM’s flagship mid-morning show.

    Aled Jones to host flagship weekday morning show in new schedule on Classic FM

    The Laver Cup 2026

    The Laver Cup 2026: Players, matches and tickets information

    Events

    A new piece by Ralph Vaughan Williams has been uncovered in a London college archive.

    ‘Rare’ new music by Vaughan Williams discovered in college archive

    Vaughan Williams

    The 2025 winners of the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards, with hosts Dan Walker and Myleene Klass at Classic FM Live.

    The Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards 2026 with ABRSM: nominate an inspiring teacher!

    Events

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