Two nights before Halloween, the Lancaster Cultural Arts Center is showing a silent horror film accompanied by live chamber music.
On Sunday evening, October 29, at 7:00 p.m. the CAC will screen the 1920, German silent movie, “The Golem: How He Came into the World.” Six Mallarmé string musicians will provide music to set the mood for the movie that is recognized as the source of the Frankenstein myth.
Mallarmé Music’s artistic director, Suzanne Rousso, said the performances are perfectly timed to occur around Halloween.
“Audiences find it frighteningly creepy even now, over 100 years since the film’s premiere,” she said.
“The Golem” tells the story of Rabbi Judah Loew, a real historical figure, who brought a giant clay creature to life to defend the Jewish people. The story’s 1600 setting coincides with the beginning of the Baroque era of music. The musicians will be using period instruments from that time period.
The project is known as “Historically Informed Performance” or HIP and its goal is to rediscover the sounds and expressive nature of early music from the 17th and 18th centuries. The performance will feature music of our time using the expressive language of the Baroque era to bring the 17th century legend to life.
The live score is written by bassist and composer Dr. Mark Elliott Bergman, director of strings and orchestral studies at Sheridan College in Wyoming, double bass instructor at the University of Wyoming and music director of Wyoming Baroque. Accompanying Bergman will be violinists David Wilson and Matvey Lapin; violist Suzanne Rousso; cellist Barbara Krumdieck; and harpsichordist Jennifer Streeter.
Mallarmé Music, formerly Mallarmé Chamber Players, is a nonprofit based in Durham, North Carolina and is a collective of professional musicians whose mission is to enrich the lives of its community through chamber music and education. They have been bringing chamber music to the Carolinas since 1984. They strive to blend great music with other art forms to expand the definition of chamber music. The name Mallarmé is taken from the 19th century poet, Stéphane Mallarmé, who was known to attract intellectuals to his home in Paris for discussions of poetry, art and philosophy.
Cellist Barbara Krumdieck said fitting the music with the movie was unlike any other concerts she has performed. She is sure the audience will be enthralled by the dramatic effect of the live music put to the silent movie.
“I was involved with Mark Bergman’s Wyoming performances of music to accompany the silent movie The Golem. It was a thrilling adventure and I’m really looking forward to bringing it back to life, so to speak, for our performance in Lancaster,” she said. “It’s exciting to present this early ‘monster movie’ right before Halloween! Very fitting!”
CAC concerts organizer John Craig said, “This is the first time since we started the concert series at the CAC, some 12 years ago, that we have combined live classical music with a movie, and this is a very special one—silent and spooky. We will be projecting on a 12-foot screen that fills the stage, with the musicians performing below the stage. In case there is any doubt that you are seeing a movie, we will be serving popcorn—at no charge! This is going to be a real Halloween treat.”
The Cultural Arts Center is housed in the restored and expanded Old Presbyterian Church, at 307 West Gay Street. Built in 1862, it was the first brick Church building in Lancaster County.
The French Gothic Revival style architecture features an arch in the pulpit, a three-sided balcony, and breathtaking stained-glass windows, some reaching nearly 20 feet high.
Craig encourages patrons to purchase their tickets early online. $15 Advance tickets can be purchased at the user-friendly website http://www.lcshp.org. Patrons should call 803-287-6826 if they have any difficulties on the website. Tickets at the door are $20.
For more information on the Cultural Arts Center and future performances, visit http://www.lcshp.org.
For more information on Mallarme’ Music, visit their Facebook page, “Mallarme Chamber Players” and website, http://www.mallarmemusic.com.
For more information on upcoming events at the Cultural Arts Center, visit https://www.lcshp.org.
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