Symphonic Cinema

Symphonic Cinema toured throughout the Netherlands together with the New European Ensemble with three films. Symphonic Cinema creates films based on classical masterpieces. Especially for this tour, the music was arranged by Thomas Beijer for the instrumentation of the New European Ensemble. The films presented were Firebird (Stravinsky), Daphnis & Chloé (Ravel), and The Echo of Being (Mahler). The tour was made possible in part by the Kickstart Cultuurfonds.

Symphonic Cinema is a new genre within the international concert and film world, conceived and introduced by Lucas van Woerkum. In this genre, dramatic films are connected to masterpieces of classical music. In contrast to “film in concert,” the music serves as the inspiration for the imagery. In a unique way, the film is adapted live to the performance on stage, allowing the musicians complete artistic freedom.

Lucas van Woerkum:

“It’s wonderful to be touring the Netherlands with Symphonic Cinema right now. Previous concerts have attracted new and younger audiences, which is of great value now that theaters are reopening. The films — featuring actors such as Greg Wise (The Crown), Amira Casar (Call Me by Your Name), Hannah Hoekstra, and Gijs Scholten van Aschat — tell the story behind the music in a way that surprises, inspires, and lifts people out of their everyday routine. We can’t wait to perform this live for audiences.”

Artistic director of the New European Ensemble, Emlyn Stam:

“The music on which these films are based is of incredible quality, and the films are equally outstanding. Together they create an added value each evening, showing the strength of the cross-pollination between these art forms. With this collaboration, the New European Ensemble aims to present this powerful music to audiences in a new way.”