Phantom of the Opera with Elixir d'Anvers

On September 6, 1925, the first version of this film based on the book of the same name by Gaston Leroux premiered in New York. Reason enough for the ensemble Elixir d’Anvers to dive into its archives, do the necessary research, and scour the internet in search of editions or manuscripts of the original score. A rock-solid film with a live orchestra that makes an idiosyncratic choice of music from its extensive Art Deco repertoire, interspersed with passages from the original score and here and there a surprising musical twist. Where music in silent films mainly served to evoke a certain atmosphere, Elixir d’Anvers places the chosen music as much as possible in direct relation to the film images, just as the best film orchestras did at the time. Central to the film is the Bourrée Fantasque van Emmanuel Chabrier. A work for piano that was orchestrated for a small ensemble in 1924 by Jacques Enoch. Music that closely matches the atmosphere of this film: restless, hurried, and at times unpredictable. A rock-solid film, a live orchestra, and an idiosyncratic choice of music with a surprising musical twist here and there make this new production a very unique event.