Composer John Williams Receives an Oscar Nomination & Wins His Fourth Golden Globe for His Acclaimed Score for 'Memoirs Of A Geisha,' Featuring Superstar Cellist, Yo-Yo Ma

Composer John Williams has received his 45th Oscar nomination. He was nominated for both "Memoirs Of A Geisha" and "Munich" this year, representing his 44th and 45th Oscar nominations. Williams has recently won his fourth Golden Globe Award for his critically acclaimed original score for "Memoirs Of A Geisha," the Dreamworks/Columbia Pictures film based on Arthur Golden's best-selling novel. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinist Itzhak Perlman are soloists on the original soundtrack recording, released by Sony Classical, which is currently in stores. John Williams and Yo-Yo Ma will make a rare appearance on "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO" on Monday, Feb. 6th, performing "Sayuri's Theme" from the Oscar nominated soundtrack.

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"I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to compose a musical score for Rob Marshall's film, 'Memoirs Of A Geisha,'" Williams says. "For years I've admired Arthur Golden's remarkable book and it has been a wish come true to collaborate with my friends Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman on this extraordinary film."

"It is rare that you have the opportunity to work with so many people you admire on one project. John Williams sent me a copy of Arthur Golden's extraordinary book when it was first released and I have been a fan ever since. Working with John Williams and Itzhak Perlman on John's poetic and mysterious score for Rob Marshall's film 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' was a dream come true" -- Yo-Yo Ma.

Directed by Oscar nominee Rob Marshall ("Chicago"), "Memoirs Of A Geisha" stars Ziyi Zhang and Michelle Yeoh -- both of whom became international sensations in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" -- Gong Li ("Farewell My Concubine," "Raise the Red Lantern"), and Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe ("The Last Samurai").

A five-time Oscar winner who has received a remarkable 45 nominations to date, Williams earlier this year completed his celebrated collaboration with filmmaker George Lucas on the "Star Wars" films with the release of "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" and the film's original soundtrack recording on Sony Classical. In the upcoming 48th Annual Grammy Awards, Williams is nominated twice for the "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith" soundtrack.

The prolific Williams also wrote and conducted original scores for both of director Steven Spielberg's films in 2005 -- "War of the Worlds" and "Munich," the latter of which also earned him an Oscar nomination for "Best Original Score."

Sony Classical, RCA Red Seal and deutsche harmonia mundi are labels of SONY BMG MASTERWORKS, a division of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. For e-mail updates and information regarding Sony Classical, RCA Red Seal, deutsche harmonia mundi and Arte Nova artists, promotions, tours and repertoire, please visit http://www.sonybmgmasterworks.com/, http://www.bmgclassics.com/ and http://www.sonyclassical.com/.

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