Light saber-wielding fans showed up at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, Sept. 1, expecting to hear John Williams conduct the L.A. Philharmonic in, as he called it, “some music from ‘Star Wars.’”They had no idea they would hear
Light saber-wielding fans showed up at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, Sept. 1, expecting to hear John Williams conduct the L.A. Philharmonic in, as he called it, “some music from ‘Star Wars.’”
They had no idea they would hear Kobe Bryant.
The former Lakers star, who retired in April 2016, took the stage to narrate “Dear Basketball, ” the letter he wrote in November 2015 when he decided to retire. The letter had been animated and, in a partnership of all-time greats, set to music by Williams, the composer of the most identifiable film scores of several generations.
Not that Williams is even remotely a basketball fan.
He explained Friday that years ago he got a message that Bryant wanted to meet with him, but Williams said he barely had watched basketball on any level. Bryant, however, wanted to talk about the creative process, as well as his daughters’ love of Williams’ “Harry Potter” music.
Williams said that much later, after Bryant retired with his 60-point farewell, Bryant reached out again to tell him that “Dear Basketball” had been animated and could use a little music.
The Southern California crowd already was buzzing but turned mostly ecstatic when Williams introduced his guest narrator: Bryant.
After Bryant left to another loud ovation, Williams launched into a three-song set from “Star Wars” and then left the stage for one of several curtain calls.
Only he was met before he could get to the wings of the Bowl by Bryant, who returned to the stage showing some deft moves with a red plastic light saber.
