From it's early days, cinema has desired to be an "all conclusive" art form - one that recruits all other art forms: painting, sculpture, music, dance, and more. Music has always shared a special bond with cinema, since the days of silent films, when a movie was accompanied by live piano music. When the talking-film begun, music made a leap with it, as an essential partner. It is not surprising then that the first talking picture was in fact a singing film (The Jazz Singer, with Al Jolson, 1927).
The Jerusalem Cinematheque has created a special yearly event that celebrates the notable connection between cinema and music - Film CONCERTO. For the past 15 years, every other Saturday morning, hundreds of people come together to commemorate their love for music and cinema. The audience is shown how these two disciplines are connected and intertwined. This program was developed in cooperation with The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. The Cinema and Music at the Jerusalem Cinematheque program is indeed "a good enough reason to get up on Saturday mornings, get out from under the covers, and travel to the Holy City, even if you're from out of town" (Ayelet Negev, Yediot Aharonot, 22.02.1998).
During each event, the audience receives a full itinerary, including a screening of a film, a lecture by leading speakers and scholars of music & cinema, and a concert performed by students of The Jerusalem Academy for Music and Dance, foremost Israeli music ensembles, and important Israeli artists. The subject of the lecture and concert is derived from the film screened.
Our first event was held on November 20th, 1993, with the screening of Ken Russel's Mahler, a lecture regarding the film's subject, composer Gustav Mahler, and a performance of Zvi Avni's piece Five Variations for Mr. K. Since then, numerous programs, varying in subjects from The Magic Flute, Rubinstein, An American in Paris, and The Jazz Singer, to A Chorus Line, Benny Goodman and swing music, and the lively music of The Buena Vista Social Club, have been presented.
Each season, a special emphasis is placed on Israeli music and cinema. The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance conducts workshops with the students of this institute that conclude their performance at unique and exceptional events honoring some of Israel's leading musicians and artists.
With each season, Film Concerto continues to develop its repertoire with unique, attractive, and creative programs.
For the full program