Following the huge success of John Williams – The Berlin Concert, which topped the German pop charts earlier this year, Deutsche Grammophon is now proud to present the world premiere recording of John Williams' Violin Concerto No. 2. The work was written for and recorded by the venerated composer's friend and frequent collaborator Anne-Sophie Mutter. Her impassioned performance was given with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Williams, who celebrated his 90th birthday on 8 February.

The new album also includes three film themes newly arranged for the violinist by their composer – the Theme from The Long Goodbye, "Han Solo and the Princess" from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and "Marion's Theme" from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Williams: Violin Concerto No. 2 & Selected Film Themes is set for release on CD and digitally on 3 June 2022, while the Concerto itself will also be simultaneously released on vinyl.

Williams and Mutter have worked together often since she gave the first performance of his Markings in Boston almost five years ago, and have co-starred on two previous hugely successful Deutsche Grammophon albums: Across the Stars (2019) and John Williams in Vienna (2020). Williams' second violin concerto reflects his deep admiration for the lyrical warmth and dynamism of Mutter's playing and for her sense of musical adventure.

John Williams recalls: "When Anne-Sophie invited me to compose a concerto for her, I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to write for one of the world's greatest artists. It was also a challenge, of course, because there are so many great violin concertos in the repertoire."