Symphonic Cinema is an innovative new format, in which classical music masterpieces are visualized into newly created dramafilms. What’s unique about the way we work, is that the films are edited live to the music.
The films are created by Dutch film director Lucas van Woerkum. Using customised software, Van Woerkum follows the conductor and orchestra’s interpretation, matching tempi and dynamics to create a visual layer as he performs as ‘image soloist’. In contrast to the modern ‘film live in concert’ format, the film responds to the music. Conductors and orchestras are free to perform completely unrestricted and interpret the music as they wish, whilst the audience is drawn even deeper into the stories of the music.
Symphonic Cinema debuted in 2010, and in 2015 the first feature-length production Firebird (Stravinsky) received five sell-out performances at the Royal Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, after which the film toured around the world with highlights in London with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and in Beijing at the National Center for the Performing Arts. In 2018, the new production of Ravel’s Daphnis & Chloé premiered at the Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and had its Manchester premiere with the BBC Philharmonic. In 2020, Symphonic Cinema opened the prestigious Mahler Festival with the film The Echo of Being, based on movements from Mahler’s symphonies. Upcoming productions include Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique and The Planets by Gustav Holst.
