Perfume the Story of a Murderer Live to Projection with Orchestra, Choir and Soprano
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PERFUME THE STORY OF A MURDERER LIVE TO PROJECTION WITH ORCHESTRA, CHOIR AND SOPRANO PERFUME - LIVE The experience How can a scent be brought to life with images, sounds and music? Back in 2006, PERFUME – THE STORY OF A MURDERER presented film-makers with immense challenges, just as it does today for the producers, the conductor and the orchestra of the “Live to Projec- tion” performance. Making Grenouille’s olfactory genius and his life tangible for the audience, allowing them to grasp his unique talent and reprehensible acts and transforming scent into sound and image is no mean feat. By combining the magic of the big screen with the formidable, space- filling sound of the symphony orchestra and choir, the film concert probably comes as close as possible to being the “perfect” perfor- mance of PERFUME - THE STORY OF A MURDERER. This is because it creates the very same physical experience - acoustic and visual 3D without using glasses or other forms of manipulation - that author Patrick Süskind had in his mind’s eye when he wrote the international bestseller and to which film-makers Bernd Eichinger and Tom Tykwer did justice. Symphony orchestra, choir, soloist and powerful projection merge into an unforgettable film and music experience. PERFUME - LIVE The story Jean-Baptiste Grenouille‘s (BEN WHISHAW) life began under harsh circumstances at a Parisian fish market in 1738. Very early on he notices that he possesses an extraordinary talent in the form of an extremely powerful sense of smell. After surviving the appalling wor- king conditions of a tannery as a boy, Grenouille begins an appren- ticeship with perfumier Baldini (DUSTIN HOFFMAN), where he soon outshines the master in the art of blending perfume. But the scents become an obsession that leads him to the very edge of humanity. Obsessed with the idea of preserving the human aroma, he unscrupulously murders young women whose scent captivates him. The drama takes its course as Grenouille, on his way to the perfume capital of Grasse, meets the beautiful Laura (RACHEL HURD-WOOD), whose scent to him surpasses all others. As more inexplicable mur- ders take place, Laura’s father, businessman Richis (ALAN RICKMAN), suspects that his daughter‘s life may also be in danger. A cat-and- mouse game of paternal love and deadly passion begins… PERFUME - LIVE The success PERFUME - THE STORY OF A MURDERER is one of the most success- ful books in the history of literature. More than twenty million copies of Patrick Süskind’s story have been sold across the world and the novel has been translated into 48 languages. PERFUME – THE STORY OF A MURDERER was also a resounding success in the cinema, but it was many years before producer Bernd Eichinger and director Tom Tykwer could realise their vision of the novel. The book’s author, Patrick Süskind, had turned down offers from Stanley Kubrick, Tim Burton, Steven Spielberg, Roman Polanski, Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott. Bernd Eichinger was only able to secure the filming rights after tough negotiations and an unprece- dentedly vast sum of 10 million Euro. PERFUME – THE STORY OF A MURDER opened in cinemas on 14th September 2006. The film is that rare species – the art-house blockbuster, achieving a global box-office gross of more than 175 million dollars and being watched by more than 12 million cinema-goers. Television broad- casts continue to enjoy top ratings in all countries. For audiences, the perfumier Jean-Baptiste Grenouille and his story have lost none of their fascination. PERFUME - LIVE The composers and their music Tom Tykwer is one of the few internationally renowned directors the Berlin Philharmonic!” To begin with, Tykwer did not think it who are also responsible for the music in their film projects. As with would be possible to work with his ideal candidates, but conductor all of his previous cinema successes, Tykwer composed the music for Sir Simon Rattle, the entire orchestra and its record label, EMI Clas- PERFUME – THE STORY OF A MURDERER together with his musician sics, were enthusiastic about this project. This is how the composi- friends Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek. tions by Tom Tykwer, Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek were even- In a departure from normal cinematic music procedure, Tykwer, Heil tually recorded for film and soundtrack by the Berlin Philharmonic and Klimek got together before filming started, developed the cen- Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle. tral motifs and made the first choir recordings. With this thorough “Hearing the music being interpreted by this vast orchestra for the preparation behind him, Tom Tykwer was able to take inspiration for first time was a very moving experience. The sound of the Berlin filming from the music and create the perfect synthesis between the Philharmonic Orchestra is more beautiful than we had ever dared aural and the visual. dream”, enthuses Johnny Klimek. Reinhold Heil agrees with his To achieve the same quality in the final recording of the soundtrack, colleague: “working together with the best orchestra in the world Tom Tykwer wanted an appropriately ambitious and first-class per- was a massive stroke of luck for us!” Tom Tykwer adds that “using formance. “During the composition, I asked myself how the music the personality and energy of the orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle has should actually sound and finally came up with a simple answer - like been able to give our music a whole new dynamic.” PERFUME - LIVE The conductor Ludwig Wicki grew up in the canton of Orchestra & Chorus in KKL Lucerne, the first Lucerne in Central Switzerland. He studied integral live performance of the film score by trombone and conducting at the music Howard Shore. Since then, he has conducted schools of Lucerne and Bern. He furthered this work in numerous concert halls all over his studies in choir mastery and orchestral the world, with the Munich Symphony Orche- conducting in Dresden under cantor Martin stra, the Orchestre National de Lyon, the Flämig and in Pescara under Professor Dona- London Philharmonic Orchestra in the Royal to Renzetti. In addition to his work as a con- Albert Hall, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra ductor at the Chapel Royal of Lucerne and as at the Ravina Festival, the 21st Century Sym- a professor at Lucerne University, a lecture- phony Orchestra at the Radio City Music Hall ship at Bern University of the Arts, artistic in New York and at Le Palais des Congrès de direction of the 21st Century Symphony Paris, among others. Orchestra and appearances as a guest con- Ludwig Wicki conducted the “Disney Live in ductor for various international orchestras, Concert” world premiere of “Pirates of the Ludwig Wicki dedicates himself in particular to performance and Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” in 2011, the much publici- recording of film music, where he has worked closely with renowned sed premiere of the Disney classic “Fantasia” in January 2012 and the composers of film scores such as Howard Shore, Randy Newman, “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequel, “Dead Man’s Chest” in November Michael Giacchino, Ilan Eshkeri and Patrick Doyle. 2012. Wicki conducted the live performance of the film score for From 2008 to 2010, Ludwig Wicki conducted the world premieres “Perfume – The Story of a Murderer” at the film music festival in of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy with the 21st Century Symphony Krakow in 2012 PERFUME - LIVE The premiere Performing PERFUME - THE STORY OF A MURDERER live with orche- stra, choir and soloist was a long-cherished dream of Tom Tykwer, Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek. Together with conductor Ludwig Wicki, who had early on already expressed his enthusiasm and the desire to put this music on stage, Christoph Becker (music manager of Constantin Film) then laid the legal, technical and organisational foundations. And that is how, on 24th May 2012, as part of the film music festival in Krakow, PERFUME – THE STORY OF A MURDERER was performed for the first time, in front of an enthralled audience of 3,500. After the concert, Tom Tykwer declared that “if I had the choice, this would be the only way my film would be performed in the future.” PERFUME - LIVE Facts & figures Instrumentation: Violin 1 16 Horn in F 4 Technology: Copy of the film - Quicktime ProRes full HD master, 147 minutes Violin 2 14 Trumpet in B 3 Viola 12 Trombone 2 Workstation - Clipster Violoncello 10 Bass trombone 1 Video Processor - Vista Spyder Contrabass 8 Tuba 1 Digital Console - DiGiCo D5 Flutes 3 Percussion 4 Type and positioning of the microphones and other technical Oboe 2 Harp 2 details are agreed with the “Perfume” sound engineer. Cor anglais 1 Piano, Celesta, Synth 1 Clarinet in B 2 Choir 80 Screen: Bass clarinet 1 Soloist 1 CinemaScope format (1:2.35) – at least 15 x 7 metres. Bassoon 2 The exact size is determined following inspection Contrabassoon 1 of the auditorium. This is the full instrumentation. A smaller, adapted version is If you require any further information we will be happy to help. possible. PERFUME - LIVE Contact: In association with Constantin Music GmbH & Brothers & Sisters GmbH Constantin Music Verlag GmbH Ivo Gmür / Barbara Lips Florastrasse 44 Postfach CH-8034 Zürich Phone: +41(0)344 380 57 40 www.brothers-sisters.ch.