44 artsLife | SUMMER 2018
In Azkaban, Albus
Dumbledore (Michael
Gambon) is forced
to allow dementors
onto the grounds at
Hogwarts to protect
students from Sirius
Black, who has just
escaped from prison.
But there’s something
about Black that even
Dumbledore doesn’t
know.
as well as Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Superman,
Born on the Fourth of July, Home Alone, Far
and Away, Sabrina, Sleepers and Rosewood.
He has written the music for more than
200 TV shows, including the instantly recognizable
themes for NBC Nightly News and
the network’s long-running Meet the Press.
More recently, he has composed a new
opener for the PBS arts showcase, Great
Performances.
Williams has served as music director and
laureate conductor of the Boston Pops,
and maintains artistic relationships with the
Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York
Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony and
the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
The legendary composer’s shelves must
be groaning under the weight of his awards.
He has won the National Medal of Arts and
the Kennedy Center Honor, as well as numerous
Golden Globes, Grammys, Emmys and
Oscars. In fact, his 50 Oscar nominations —
nominated person ever, after Walt Disney.
As for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban, has anyone here not seen it? Of
course you’ve seen it — but maybe you
haven’t seen it lately. And you certainly
haven’t seen it like this.
To date, Azkaban has earned more
than $996 million worldwide — and is often
regarded by critics and fans as the best of
The San Francisco Chronicle lauded its
more mature tone, describing it as “darker,
more complex, rooted in character.”
The Hollywood Reporter
deeper, darker, visually arresting and more
emotionally satisfying adaptation of the
J.K. Rowling literary phenomenon.”
Rolling Stone
half out of four stars: “Not only is this dazzler
by far the best and most thrilling of the
that can stand on its own even if you’ve
never heard of author J.K. Rowling and her
young wizard hero.”