chaplin's city lights and the RLPO

By Catherine Jones on Jun 22, 09 12:00 PM

THE golden age of silent cinema returns to Liverpool when Charlie Chaplin's classic City Lights illuminates the Philharmonic Hall next week.

Audiences will be transported back to the early 30s as Phil favourite Carl Davis and the RLPO provide live orchestral accompaniment to the black and white masterpiece.
New Yorker Davis has penned scores for around 40 silent movies during his career, but the music on offer next Thursday is a 'tactful restoration' of the original score which was composed by Charlie Chaplin himself.
The conductor explains: "We used to do regular performances of films in the 90s and proved quite specialist with Chaplin.
"1930, when the film was released, was a crossover period between silent films and sound. Chaplin made City Lights as a silent movie but by the time he'd finished it the world had changed so he created a score which he wrote himself. He grew up in variety and music hall and his score is in the old style."
City Lights follow the romantic adventures of a little tramp who falls in love with a blind girl selling flowers.
It will be preceded by Gershwin's overture to another 1930 film, Girl Crazy, which contains some instantly familiar hit Broadway melodies including I Got Rhythm, But Not For Me and Embraceable You.
The programme will be completed by another Gershwin classic, his "epoch-making" Rhapsody in Blue which will feature Ian Buckle on piano.
Carl adds: "The music is all of the same period - we have a little warm up with Gershwin before the film. The Phil are great at this and we're going to have a wonderful time."
The flamboyant honorary Scouser will also be back on July 19 for the traditional Last Night of the Summer Pops, which he describes as a "three coat event".
He explains: "It's a double- edged 'last night'. It's simultaneous with a record release on Naxos of film music we've recorded, and we'll preview some of that as well."
Meanwhile City Lights is one of three film-related evenings in this year's Pops series at the Philharmonic Hall. There are also two chances to catch Dance Legends of the Silver Screen, with the RLPO under John Wilson providing the music for twinkle-toed Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse and Leslie Caron on July 2 and July 15.
Chaplin's City Lights takes place on Thursday, June 25.