search for something...

search for something you might like...

New Babylon The London Philharmonic Orchestra is not known for its adventurousness when it comes to live silent film concerts. And so with New Babylon? Marek Pytel knows...

New Babylon

The London Philharmonic Orchestra is not known for its adventurousness when it comes to live silent film concerts. And so with New Babylon? Marek Pytel knows...

by Marek Pytel,
first published: November, 2006

approximate reading time: minutes

Ham-fisted subtitling to Kozintsev and Trauberg's dramatic tale of the failed 1871 revolution of the Paris Commune, ensured that the Barbican audience failed to engage with the film right from the start.

NEW BABYLON
Grigorii Kozintev, Leonid Trauberg, Dmitri Shostakovich
USSR 1929
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurovski, Barbican 8.11.06

The London Philharmonic Orchestra is not known for its adventurousness when it comes to live silent film concerts. Its work with composer/conductor Carl Davis nearly brought the medium to its knees some years ago and a lacklustre easy listening performance of Shostakovich's brilliant 1929 first work for cinema was always on the cards given their participation. The Philharmonic's work last night under the baton of Vladimir Jurovski, and their own production of the show - brought in for the occasion wholesale from an organisation called the European Film Philharmonie - did little to redress the balance.

New Babylon was the culminating masterpiece of the experimental "Factory of the Eccentric Actor" which operated in 1920's Leningrad, satirising the Soviet "bon ton" approach to the arts. (their motto: "Better to be a young pup than an old bird of paradise" ) and in competent hands this, their final film, has been assessed as "the highpoint of Soviet cinema, of Shostakovich's career, and of dramatic music in general".

However, ham-fisted subtitling to Kozintsev and Trauberg's dramatic tale of the failed 1871 revolution of the Paris Commune, ensured that the Barbican audience failed to engage with the film right from the start.

The main problem of course, as the programme notes bravely attempted to deny, was that almost 25% of the film for which Shostakovich's score was written was missing in the print being screened. This made complete nonsense of the synchronization of the film to its music - a fact which became increasingly clear during the first half of the film where most of the missing footage had once been concentrated.  Major problems with reel changeovers also helped destroy the film's original cohesion and ensured the orchestra played it as a continuous piece instead of the structured 8 act work the composer had originally scored.

As the programme booklet noted, the film had been censored for its "formalism" only three weeks before its original 18th March 1929 premiere and after Shostakovich's music had been completed. It might therefore have been interesting to have seen exactly what such "formalism" may have actually been. In its original form the film would have demonstrated this art movement. The fact that many of the directors' and composer's fellow artists, such as the great theatrical director Meyerhold, were shot by the state for the fictitious crime of "formalism" might have been deemed relevant to the evening, but the Philharmonic and its management skirted round the issue just as their orchestra avoided engaging in the work itself, seemingly wishing they were anywhere but on a stage performing what they obviously regarded as communist propaganda instead of the more usual bourgeois fare for which they are noted.

By the time the musicians and their conductor eventually limped over the finish line, despite slowing the film down as far as possible to accommodate the lack of original footage, all pretence of providing a finale had vanished. The music, written for an orchestra of two dozen instruments, and performed last night by over three times that number, had long ago degenerated into a dismal wash, undistinguished by nuance, spark or indeed basic understanding.

Rumour had it that these shows were also being recorded for a future CD release. On this showing, the public might be better advised to wait for a different version of Kozintsev, Trauberg and Shostakovich's first and lost epic work to appear before parting with any more money on such a disappointing production as the London Philharmonic's performance of it.

One star.


Read the FEKS 1922 Eccentric Manifesto online at: www.newbabylon.co.uk.

And visit Reality Film for more information about the work of the author

RECENT STORIES

RANDOM READS

All About and Contributors

HELP OUTSIDELEFT

Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]

WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT

If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]

WRITERS thru' the Years

Agata Makiela, Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Becca Kelly, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Cassie Thomas, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, Danny Rose, David Hackney, David O'Byrne, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Rich, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, J.Lee, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Jonathan Thornton, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Kiah Cranston, Kleo Kay, Lake, Lee Paul, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Martin Devenney, Meave Haughey, Michelle Williams, Mike Fox, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Burns, Paul Hawkins, Paul Mortimer, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Richard John Walker, Rick Casson, Rikki Stein, Ronan Crinion, Rowena Murphy, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Tony Fletcher, Toon Traveller, Trevi, Urs Lerch, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & Lamontpaul

OUTSIDELEFT UNIVERSE

Last Night of the LTB Showrooms
OUTSIDELEFT Night Out
weekend

outsideleft content is not for everyone