Silent Shakespeare

On Sunday 1 December, the British Art Music Series is presenting a pair of concerts at the St James's Theatre in aid of Sense, the charity for Deaf Blind people. The London Contemporary Orchestra will be performing Silent Shakespeare, in which seven early silent films of Shakespeare's plays are being shown with a score for small orchestral ensemble by Laura Rossi. The films, from Britain, Italy and the USA, were made between 1899 and 1911. The films are King John (UK, 1899), The Tempest (UK, 1908), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (USA, 1909), King Lear (Italy, 1910), Twelfth Night (USA, 1910), The Merchant of Venice (Italy, 1910) and Richard III (UK, 1911).

Rossi has written extensively for film, most recently for Song For Marion starring Vanessa Redgrave and Terrence Stamp. Since 1998 she has been writing music for the British Film Institutes re-releases of silent films. Rossi's score Silent Shakespeare was last heard in London over a decade ago. Further information and booking from the St James's Theatre website.