La Provence
American composer Kevin Hayes revives the musical score for Metropolis, Fritz Lang’s 1926 masterpiece of silent cinema.
Last night The Avignon Opera House presented the advance European premiere of Metropolis, featuring the music of Kevin Hayes, following the success of the American screening at the New York Film Festival.
Kevin Saunders Hayes worked for two years on the new musical accompaniment for Fritz Lang’s Metropolis – considered one of the great works of silent cinema.
The organizers of the Avignon Film Festival, aware of the position of the city of the Popes (Avignon, cultural capital of the year 2000, la Beauté exposition) thought it appropriate to do something noteworthy for this first Euro-American Festival 2000.
Such was the case for the screening of Metropolis Sunday night at the Opera House. From the beginning of the first act, the audience was transported by a genuine live performance of eight American singers and four musicians, backed by the pre-recorded orchestra and 16 member Opera Choir.
Chantal “was dazzled by the music, as she felt the vibrations internally – it was overwhelming”. Marie-France was “especially appreciative of the chance to have another look at this prophetic film by the man that filmed it in 1926.
Actress Carole Bouquet (For Your Eyes Only) was to have attended last night’s premiere, which was sponsored by the Avignon Lions Club in partnership with The Avignon Opera House, France Telecom and the city of Avignon. The premiere raised funds in support of “The Voice of the Child”, an association fighting for the protection of children in France as well as 70 other countries, and of which the actress has been the spokesperson for more than ten years.
Having to cancel her appearance due to a family emergency, Carol has promised to visit Avignon in the near future, to meet with the organizers of the event. At the end of the performance, a cheque for 45,000 francs was presented to Martine Brus, president of the association.
