The Passion of Joan of Arc
Adrian Utley (Portishead) and Will Gregory (Goldfrapp) have created a new score for this classic film (Dir: Carl Theodor Dreyer 1928 France 1hr 22mins) long regarded as a towering masterpiece of cinema. Charles Hazlewood conducts an eclectic group including Utley and Gregory, six electric guitars, members of the Monteverdi Choir, percussion, horns and keyboards. The music incorporates extended techniques for guitar and voices providing a powerful landscape for this incredibly innovative and moving film about the last days of Joan of Arc.
This short documentary by Rick Holbrook follows the progress of Adrian Utley and Will Gregory as they develop their new score.
The world première performance took place on Fri 7 May 2010 at Colston Hall, Bristol, UK and was a unique collaboration between renowned musicians Utley and Gregory, the newly refurbished Colston Hall and Watershed.
This live music to silent film project was developed with and supported by Watershed, and commissioned by Colston Hall.
Film Clips courtesy of Artificial Eye.
Related Links:
The Passion of Joan of Arc
White Light Festival
Press:
Guardian Review
Financial Times Review
The New York Times Review
The Telegraph Review
Blogs:
ATP review: Chris Harris's blog
ATP review: Wears the trousers magazine
Fashion is my Imaginary Friend: Adrian Utley and Will Gregory Interview (Dazed & Confused May Issue)
Lucid Frenzy Junior Review of The Passion of Joan of Arc
Posted on Sat 1 May 2010.