Mammoth film concert - German conductor performs legendary Napoleon film concert
A reconstruction that took 14 years, a 33 kilogramme score, compiled from 104 works by 48 composers. The legendary Napoleon-Epic film concert by Abel Gance from the year 1927 is now premiering in Paris - under the baton of German conductor Frank Strobel.
This mammoth work and almost a national shrine for the French will be celebrated in two parts (4th and 5th July) at the "Seine Musicale" in Boulogne-Billancourt, one of the largest concert halls in France. Over 250 musicians will accompany the 7-hour version of the silent film under Strobel's direction, whose 4.5 million euro reconstruction is considered gigantic.
Pioneer in film concerts
Strobel is known for his film concerts. Under his conduct, the restored versions of "Metropolis" and "Der müde Tod" by Fritz Lang were performed. This Napoleon-Epic is a challenge for the leader of the European Filmphilharmonie and the former chief conductor of the WDR Funkhausorchester in Cologne.
"The score is of extraordinary stylistic diversity. It covers around 300 years of music history and ranges from Mozart and Wagner to Beethoven, Liszt, Haydn, Berlioz and Penderecki," he explained to the German Press Agency in Paris. Strobel calls the composition by Simon Cloquet-Lafollye a kaleidoscope, which is a well thought-out system.
Gigantic project
The native Munich resident, who lives in Berlin and Lyon today, will conduct the musicians of the National Orchestra of France, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio France and the Radio France Choir. Another challenge, as he said, because each orchestra has its own sound culture.
Gance is not unknown to Strobel. He has already musically accompanied two works by this avant-garde film pioneer. I know his incredible emotionality, he said. The Napoleon-Epic is like a grand spectacle film, which portrays Napoleon Bonaparte as a superman. With over 400,000 metres of film, thousands of extras and a collection of techniques, the film was already a mad project back then.
- The 33-kilogramme score for the Napoleon-Epic movie, which includes compositions from various composers over 300 years, will be conducted by German conductor Frank Strobel in Paris.
- The legendary Napoleon-Epic film concert, now premiering in France, is considered a national shrine and a gigantic project that took 14 years to reconstruct.
- Strobel, known for his film concerts, has previously conducted restored versions of Metropolis and Der müde Tod by Fritz Lang and two works by avant-garde film pioneer Gance.
- The Napoleon-Epic movie, which was a daunting project with over 400,000 metres of film, thousands of extras and a vast collection of techniques, is being celebrated with a new reconstructed version in Paris.
