A standing ovation at the closing silent film concert “AUSGERECHNET WOLKENKRATZER” in the Audimax
The Audimax at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar was almost full to capacity on Friday, 6 September 2024. The occasion was the film concert marking the conclusion of the 6th Weimar Silent Film Retrospective, ‘Weltenecho. Films of the Weimar Republic in Weimar’s Cinemas 1924’, held as part of the Kunstfest Weimar. Under the baton of conductor Robert Israel (USA), the superbly performed Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-Eisenach accompanied the supporting film “THE VOICE OF THE NIGHTINGALE” (France 1923, world premiere of the specially composed film music: Richard Siedhoff) and the main feature “SKYSCRAPERS” (USA 1923, music by Robert Israel). Both films were also screened in 1924 at the two Weimar cinemas “Helds Lichtspiele” (Marienstraße 1) and “Reform-Lichtspiele formerly Th. Scherff” (Marktstraße 20), with the main film considered one of the most internationally successful films of all time. To begin with, Robert Israel also conveyed warm greetings to the audience from Suzanne Lloyd, the granddaughter of the lead protagonist and silent film star Harald Lloyd, with whom he had spoken on the phone that very morning. In keeping with this spirit, people aged between five and 86 then enjoyed a cinema screening that left nothing to be desired: sharing the excitement of the lead actor Harald Lloyd, endless, contagious laughter, the occasional murmur and even spontaneous applause. The room was filled with intelligent humour, immersive music and the conductor’s moving shadow cast upon the wood panelling. As the final curtain fell, Robert Israel spoke of the unrivalled atmosphere of watching these special films in a joint manner. He also asked the audience if anyone had seen the main film for the first time today. In response, a large number of hands shot up. What an event!
Well over 700 people attended this year’s 6th Weimar Silent Film Retrospective, which featured 20 films selected from the 463 films produced during Weimar’s cinema year of 1924 – of which, after all, 37.7 per cent have survived. “We had a wonderful film programme this year featuring brilliant national and international musicians. The film concert in the Audimax can be regarded as an absolute highlight and a great success for us all,” says Dr Katrin Richter, co-organiser of the Weimar Silent Film Retrospective. The film screenings were complemented by presentations and newsreels, as well as the panel discussion “The Nibelungen Saga – Echoes of an Ancient Myth in Art and Politics”, moderated by historian Dr Jens Riederer (Weimar City Archives), featuring General Director and Director Hasko Weber (DNT Weimar), composer and music theorist Prof. Wolf-Günter Leidel, and film scholar Dr Simon Frisch (Bauhaus-Universität Weimar). Next year, the Weimar Silent Film Retrospective will enter its seventh year as part of the Kunstfest Weimar, and preparations for the collaboration between Kunstfest Weimar, Lichthaus Kino, the City of Weimar and the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar are already in full swing.
Organisers:
Department of Film and Media Studies, Faculty of Media, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar; University Library of Bauhaus-Universität Weimar; Lichthaus Kino Weimar; Weimar City Archives; Kunstfest Weimar
Sponsors: Thuringian State Chancellery; Sparkasse Mittelthüringen; City of Weimar; Thuringian State Agency for Political Education; Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Simon Frisch, Department of Film and Media Studies, by e-mail: simon.frisch@uni-weimar.de or by telephone: +49 (0) 36 43/58 37 37, or Dr Katrin Richter, University Library, by e-mail: katrin.richter@uni-weimar.de or by telephone: +49 (0) 36 43/58 28 03.
Visit the Weimar Silent Film Retrospective website