Motueka Music Group’s next concert may just bring the rafters down.
The age of the silent movie – Lillian Gish, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin – haven’t you always wanted to experience the movies the way your grandparents…great grandparents (hmmmm, how far to go back?) watched them.
The first commercial screening of a silent film occurred in 1895, and the silent film era is generally considered to have lasted from the mid-890s until the early 1930s.
The performance, Silent Movies Live, was born in early 2021 in response to the renewed appetite for live entertainment following Covid restrictions. Originally performed outdoors, the project has since moved into theatres, reviving the magic of 1920s picture houses—where silent films were brought to life with live musical accompaniment.
Pianist David Selfe composes the original scores, arranged by percussionist Jeremy Fitzsimons, who performs on a rich array of percussion instruments, sound effects, saw, and ukulele. Together, they create a vibrant soundscape that enhances the emotional depth and humour of Charlie Chaplin’s timeless films. With a growing repertoire of Chaplin classics, Silent Movies Live brings a fresh and playful energy to the golden age of cinema.
This will be fun and a great concert to bring children and grandchildren to, to introduce them to live music performance. Tickets are expected to sell quickly.
Silent Movies Live is on at the Motueka Chanel Arts Centre on Saturday 11 October at 7.30pm. Tickets ($25 adults, $5 schoolchildren) can be purchased at Motueka Floral Studio (cash only) or at the door on the night of the concert (cash/ EFTPOS).
