Within the context of a festival, classic cinema transforms, taking on another form, another body, leaving behind the comforting dimension of neutral replicability, a shift into performance art. Cinema comes alive through the film reels—worn or restored to their original splendor—shining in various formats from 16 to 35 to 70mm, emerging from the projectors that bring them to life… A festival is a living celebration of cinema, requiring technical and logistical expertise, harmonious action, and management of the unexpected. And—in all this delicate vitality—let's not forget a fundamental aspect of The Seventh Art: the music.

With another edition of Il Cinema Ritrovato done and dusted, we look at the musicians who made numerous screenings and events more than special. Each artist brought their talent and creativity to the stage, enriching the screenings with their extraordinary musical performances.

They accompanied the silent films of the 1903 and 1923 sections, and not only in the cinemas, musicians took to the stage in Piazza Maggiore and Auditorium Manzoni in front of thousands of spectators with the screenings of Stella Dallas by Henry King and Lady Windermere's Fan by Ernst Lubitsch.

Once again music takes centre stage (and centre screen) of Il Cinema Ritrovato festival. A programme full of musical events, spotted around the festival venues. 

This Year il Cinema Ritrovato dedicates two appointments to CAM Sugar, historical film music label that represents the richer source of music visuals in Italy. A selection of CAM Sugar artworks is at the centre of an exhibition that takes place in Biblioteca Renzo Renzi from June 25th to september 10th (closed in august). Besides, CAM Sugar catalogue will be presented in Piazzetta Pasolini during a dedicated event on Friday July 1st at 7PM.

Among the many facets of Il Cinema Ritrovato, certainly we cannot overlook the musical factor that enriches many of the festival's screenings.

The Orchestra of Teatro Comunale di Bologna returns to Piazza Maggiore with two film concerts featuring original scores composed and conducted by Timothy Brock to mark the centenary of two of the masterpieces of film history: Erich von Stroheim’s Foolish Wives on the 27th June and F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu on the 2nd July. In Piazza Maggiore Dans la nuit (1929) by Charles Vanel will be programmed with a musical accompaniment, too.

For the 33rd edition of Il Cinema Ritrovato festival we decided to ask a few questions to the Maestro Timothy Brock who is one of our most precious collaborator.

From the very beginning, when it still lacked the spoken word, cinema has always sought its musicality - an interweaving of rhythms, harmonies and passions. The musicians, improvisers and composers of Cinema Ritrovato know this only too well: those artists who grind out hours at the piano, searching for the rhythms, the harmonies and the emotions that come from the silent image.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.