John Lenehan - Recitals With Film

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John's fascination with the relationship between film and music has led him to work with silent films in concert for more than twenty years. He has also worked with many of today's foremost film composers including John Williams, Michael Nyman, Elmer Bernstein and Howard Shore.

The Roaring Twenties
To herald the twenty-twenties, acclaimed pianist John Lenehan presents a centenary celebration of the unique music and film of an iconic decade, the fabulous 1920’s.
 
Music by Gershwin, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Stravinsky and Kurt Weill brings to life on screen appearances from the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, Greta Garbo, Harold Lloyd, Erik Satie, Al Capone and Albert Einstein. The performance also features atmospheric archive film of London, Paris and New York set to music of the decade.  If your audiences enjoyed 'In the Footsteps of Laurel & Hardy', they will love this - a trip back in time to a crazy, supremely creative decade of instantly recognisable music, film & icons of the silver screen.
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Film Fantasia
When listening to music many people respond to what they hear by relating it to other sensations - imagining colours and shapes or creating storylines. Throughout the twentieth century leading filmmakers created work inspired this way - their own responses to music. In this programme John Lenehan has collected together a wide variety of piano music all with film accompaniments. They range from cartoons (including one of the very first) to abstract representations (similar to Walt Disney's "Fantasia") to straightforward story telling as in the charming films based on "Carmen" and "The Magic Flute". Great entertainment and something for everyone to enjoy!

Mozart arr. Lenehan - The magic Flute
Accompanied by the film "Papageno" (1935)
Schumann - In der Nacht
Accompanied by the film "In der Nacht" (1931)
Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue
Accompanied by the film "Life and Death of 9413 - a Hollywood Extra" (1928)
       interval
Nicolai - Overture to "The Merry Wives of Windsor"
Brahms - Hungarian Dance no.5
Foxtrot - I've never seen a smile like yours
Accompanied by the films of Oscar Fischinger (1931-5)
Mozart - Sonata K. 545 (1st Mvt)
Accompanied by the film "Drama among the Puppets" (1908)
Debussy - 5 Preludes
Accompanied by the film "The Conquest of the Pole" (1912)
Bizet arr. Lenehan - Carmen
Accompanied by the film "Carmen" (1935)

From Gershwin to Glass
An entertainment combining early silent film with jazz piano accompaniments and piano music written by Nyman and Glass for more recent films.

Gershwin - Promenade (from "Shall we Dance" - 1937 Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers film)
FILM - "Entr'acte" (original music by Satie who also appears in the film)
Glass - Music from "The Hours"
FILM "One A.M." (Chaplin with music by Fats Waller)
        interval
FILM "Ghosts before Breakfast" (music by Hindemith who also appears in the film)
Nyman - Music from "The Piano"
FILM "The Count" Chaplin with music by Scott Joplin