Princess of Asturias Awards 2020 – John Williams – Videos and speech

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Last Friday, October 16th, the Princess of Asturias Awards were presented at the Hotel de la Reconquista in Oviedo (Spain), in a ceremony with a very reduced attendance that was broadcast on television, due to the prevailing sanitary measures.

 

There, the legendary composers Ennio Morricone (who passed away recently in July – read more) and John Williams were awarded with the Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts (read more). The latter, who could not travel due to the situation generated by the pandemic, sent a video message of gratitude that we leave you below.

 

Spanish dubbed version:

 

Speech (in Spanish):

“Hola. Soy John Williams, hablándoles desde Los Ángeles. Lamento mucho no poder estar con ustedes esta noche en Oviedo, pero ciertamente el virus hace que viajar sea muy difícil, sino imposible. Pero estoy muy feliz de tener esta oportunidad de dar las gracias a la Familia Real, al Rey Felipe, a la Reina Letizia y a la Princesa Leonor y a todos los miembros de la Fundación Princesa de Asturias.

 

Quiero dar las gracias a la Fundación y felicitarla por reconocer el papel fundamental que las artes juegan en la vida de todos nosotros. Siento realmente que poder dedicar toda la vida a escribir música es un gran privilegio para cualquier compositor, que nos hace a todos muy afortunados. Y el hecho de que mi música pueda ser apreciada en otras partes del mundo es algo más… una bendición más allá de cualquier cosa que pudiera haber anticipado.

 

Además, quiero mencionar a mi colega Ennio Morricone. Como saben, Ennio ha fallecido recientemente; pero el mundo ama su música icónica, poderosa y enérgica y aunque ya no tenemos a Ennio entre nosotros, tenemos su espíritu y su música, que nos acompañará siempre.

 

Y, finalmente, permítanme decirles, señoras y señores, que nunca he podido visitar su gran país, pero espero algún día poder visitar un país que ha ofrecido al mundo durante siglos tanto arte trascendental y música hermosa.

 

Muchas, muchas gracias a todos por este gran honor.”

 

English version:

 

Speech (in English):

“Hello. I’m John Williams, speaking to you from Los Angeles. I’m very sorry I can’t be with you tonight in Oviedo, but the virus, of course, makes travelling very difficult, if not impossible. But I’m very happy to have this opportunity to thank the Royal Family, King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Princess Leonor and all the members of the Princess of Asturias Foundation.

 

I want to thank the Foundation and congratulate it for recognizing the essential role that the Arts plays in all our lives. And for any composer, I certainly feel that to be able to devote one’s entire life to the composing of music is a great privilege, making us all very lucky. And the fact my music can be appreciated elsewhere around the world is something beyond… a blessing beyond anything I could possibly ever have anticipated.

 

Also, I want to mention my colleague Ennio Morricone. Ennio, as you know, has passed away recently, but the world loves his iconic and powerful and forceful music and although we haven’t got Ennio with us any longer, we have his spirit and his music, which will be with us forever.

 

And finally let me say, Ladies and Gentlemen, that I have never been able to visit your great country, but I hope someday to be able to visit a country which has contributed to the world over the centuries so much momentous art and beautiful music.

 

Thank you all very, very much for this great honour.”

 

After the award ceremony, Andrea Morricone, the composer’s son, conducted a small string formation in the hotel courtyard, where they performed ‘Deborah’s Theme – Once Upon a Time in America”, letting his father’s music speak on his behalf:

 

#PremiosPrincesaDeAsturias2020

 

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