Charlie Chaplins »The Circus« – silent film with live music

With »The Circus«, Chaplin won his first Academy Award in 1929 (back when it wasn’t yet called the “Oscar”). The special award honored his versatility and ingenuity in screenwriting, acting, directing, and producing. The film certainly deserved the recognition, as it contains some of Chaplin’s finest comedic ideas, all underscored by a subtle, emotionally rich tone.

As with many of his projects, Chaplin was not only the actor and director of »The Circus«, but also its composer. He discovered the power and beauty of music early on, later teaching himself to play the violin and cello, and spending hours improvising at the piano. His film scores were created through an intensive workshop process: Chaplin would hum, sing, play, and dance to show musicians what he imagined, until every phrase captured the exact expression he sought.

Thus, »The Circus« is not only a silent film classic, but also a musical experience, with Chaplin’s own score delighting our ears just as his gestures delight our eyes. Performed live by the Symphoniker Hamburg under the direction of Stefanos Tsialis, the magic of cinema and concert unfolds in a truly unique moment.