Like every other contemporary film composer, Alexandre Desplat works in the shadow of the great John Williams. And so it was on Tuesday (July 15), as Desplat made his Hollywood Bowl debut, conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra on a program of music from his film scores.
Before the show began, overhead screens promoted upcoming shows, including a tribute to Williams which is booked to run three nights (Aug. 22-24), with David Newman conducting the L.A. Phil. The title of that show: “Maestro of the Movies: Celebrating the Music of John Williams.”
If the name “Maestro of the Movies” is taken, let’s call Desplat “Monsieur of the Movies.” The French composer deserves that, thanks to his impeccable musicianship and disarming, shy manner.
Near the top of the show, Desplat said “It’s an immense pleasure to be celebrating about 20 years of Hollywood films. I figured this would be a good venue to do this.”
Indeed it is. The Hollywood Bowl is about a mile from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, where Desplat has picked up two Oscars, for The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Shape of Water, from 11 nominations. Since the Oscar ceremony in 2000, only Williams has received more Oscar nominations for best original score (17).
Desplat, 63, has said he realized that he wanted to be a film scorer when he heard Williams’ score for Star Wars in 1977, so he probably doesn’t mind trailing the master in Oscar nods. “He’s such a legend for all of us,” Desplat recently told The Los Angeles Times. “He’s just the only one to follow.”
Desplat didn’t include (or even mention) any of his three 2025 film scores – for Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, Gareth Edwards’ Jurassic World Rebirth or Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (The latter film, now in post-production, is due in November).
Desplat has conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Munich Symphony Orchestra on performances of his music. And now he can add the L.A. Phil to that list.
Here are the six best moments from the show that gave Gustavo Dudamel a night off and the rest of us a real treat.
A Section Saluting Wes Anderson
