Timothy Brock © Lorenzo Burlando
Chaplin / City Lights © Roy Export S.A.S
ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien / Brock
Chaplin: City Lights / Lichter der Großstadt
Wednesday
4
June
2025
19:30
Großer Saal
Presented by
Wiener Konzerthausgesellschaft
Comedy, romance and social criticism
»An ironic and socially critical tragicomedy full of humanity, kindness and optimism«, says the Dictionary of International Film about »City Lights« (1931) - one of Charlie Chaplin's greatest masterpieces. Although the sound film had been advancing inexorably since »The Jazz Singer« (1927), Chaplin was initially sceptical about the phenomenon of »talkies«. As is well known, the medium of film was never silent per se: film music was always an important component and guarantor of its success. Charlie Chaplin was well aware of its effect. Music was his passion, and even without a sound education he had an unerring instinct for precise phrasing, tempi and effects. In »City Lights«, he was also responsible for the film music for the first time: when the Tramp falls in love with a blind flower seller, who in turn mistakes him for a millionaire, a successful mixture of jazz, waltz, mambo and references to 19th century music can be heard. None other than Chaplin specialist Timothy Brock will be conducting the Vienna RSO at the performance of this film gem at the Vienna Konzerthaus.
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