The Artist with live score played by London Symphony Orchestra

Iconic venue opens its doors between Christmas and News Year for the first time this century

Two years after it charmed the world with its nostalgic look at the golden days of Hollywood, Academy Award-winning film The Artist will be shown together with The London Symphony Orchestra for a UK premier this year in the iconic setting of The Royal Albert Hall.

Traditionally a period when the Royal Albert Hall is closed as it prepares for Cirque du Solei’s arrival in January, this year the world famous venue will open its doors between Christmas and New Year for this special event. With performances on Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 December 2013, the live concert version of the film will bring in the New Year in style, with guests encouraged to dress up and celebrate the elegance and style of the Golden Age of Glamour.

The multi award-winning film will be dramatically brought to life on stage with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ernst Van Tiel, playing the soundtrack simultaneously with a high-definition screening of the film. It forms part of the Hall’s live orchestra classic film series, which this year has included West Side Story, Star Trek, Singin’ in the Rain and Fantasia. So far, 100,000 people have enjoyed sold-out performances of these classic films at the Hall as the venue looks to provide memorable visitor experiences for all.

Jasper Hope, Chief Operating Officer at the Royal Albert Hall, said: ‘The Royal Albert Hall has unquestionably established itself as the destination of choice for the greatest classic film with live orchestra projects. As we look to make the Hall more accessible for as wide a range of people as possible, we are delighted to be promoting end of year concerts for the first time this century and hosting the UK premiere of this exceptional film, featuring its truly brilliant score, played live for a London audience in the midst of their New Year celebrations.’

This performance has been programmed by The Royal Albert’s Hall own team as part of their charitable remit to increase access to the arts and sciences in keeping with Prince Albert’s original vision for the venue as a centre for the Arts and Sciences. The live orchestra classic film series demonstrates the range of performances at the venue, as it aims to broaden its appeal to a younger, more diverse audience and offer magical experiences for all.

Thomas Langmann, the film’s producer, said ‘It is a huge honour for me to rediscover The Artist live in concert in one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world- the Royal Albert Hall. For it to be played live by the London Symphony Orchestra, one of the best orchestras in the world, will assure each performance’s emotional intensity’

Bérénice Bejo added, ‘Filming The Artist was one of the most incredible movie making experiences. To now see the film come alive in this way, within the extraordinary setting of the Royal Albert Hall, will be a special event indeed’

Ludovic Bource, the film’s composer, commented ‘“Composing the soundtrack to The Artist was a dream come true and the music played an integral part in telling the story. It is a pleasure to bring this soundtrack to life at the Royal Albert Hall and to be performing alongside the wonderful London Symphony Orchestra.”

Written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius and starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo, the film takes place in Hollywood, between 1927 and 1932, and focuses on the relationship of an older silent film star and a rising young actress, as silent cinema falls out of fashion and is replaced by the ‘talkies’.

With the film’s soundtrack composed by Ludovic Bource, The Artist received universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike when it was released. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards® and won five including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Score and Best Picture, becoming the first French film to ever win Best Picture. It was also nominated for six Golden Globes Awards, winning three, and twelve BAFTAs, winning seven, which makes it the most awarded film in French history. Composer Ludovic Bource, who won an Oscar®, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for his soundtrack, will also perform in these very special events and fans of this much loved modern classic will be able to revisit the film, with one of the world’s finest symphony orchestras, for a unique cinematic experience within the magical setting of the Royal Albert Hall.

There is no official dress code for this event but anyone who wishes is encouraged to celebrate the elegance and style of Hollywood’s Golden Age of Glamour, and not just for the New Year’s Eve performances.