'Film Symphonic' is a new concept from the Belgian National Orchestra. From this season onwards, two film music concerts will be performed annually, a series curated by none other than conductors Dirk Brossé and Frank Strobel. These two experts in the genre present films that you won't see elsewhere – and certainly not accompanied by a live symphonic orchestra. The first film concert in this series? The Great Escape with music by Elmer Bernstein! Mark your calendars for Thursday evening, December 15 at 8 p.m. in the Henry Le Boeuf Hall at BOZAR, where the Belgian National Orchestra under the direction of Dirk Brossé will accompany this film live!
A true story
The Great Escape is based on a true story. During World War II, no fewer than 76 prisoners managed to escape from Stalag Luft III, a German prisoner-of-war camp in present-day Poland. To accomplish this, the entire camp population worked for months on a tunnel over 100 meters long, supported mainly by bed frames from the prisoners' barracks. Of the 76 people who managed to escape, only three, after considerable wandering, safely reached allied territory.
One of the prisoners of war who had helped dig the tunnel, but who could not escape himself, documented his experiences in a book published in 1950. That book, The Great Escape, formed the basis in 1963 for a real blockbuster. The film of the same name directed by John Sturges was nominated for various awards and won an award in the Best Actor category at the international film festival in Moscow.
Film music by Elmer Bernstein
Partly responsible for the enormous success of The Great Escape was the music of Elmer Bernstein. Each character in the film has his own musical motif linked to the film's general main theme. Rousing music conveys the courage of the prisoners of war while softer passages give them a deeply human, sympathetic character. The Belgian National Orchestra performs Elmer Bernstein's score under the direction of Dirk Brossé, while the cinema classic is shown on the big screen.
Dirk Brossé as curator
Versatile composer and internationally respected conductor … Dirk Brossé hardly needs introduction in Belgium anymore. At the Belgian National Orchestra too, Dirk Brossé is a welcome guest. Recently, as an alternative New Year's concert in times of COVID, he brought a medley with classical music and recently he led recording sessions for Multitude, Stromae's latest album. We sought him out for a conversation about conducting film music concerts.