HISTOIRE DUN PIERROT

STORY OF A PIERROT
live soundtrack of the film by Mario Costa
with BIAGIO FINAMORE, CARLO ANGIONE, two pianos

The Story of a Pierrot is a silent film produced in 1914 by the Roman "Italica Ars", filmed in the Roman studios of "Celio Film" and directed by Baldassarre Negroni. Based on a pantomime by Fernand Beissier, with music by Mario Costa, the film was first performed on January 2, 1893. It was one of the very first attempts at sound in the silent film era as the film was distributed with a piano score that indicated synchronization between the action on screen and the musical accompaniment. Italica Ars was specifically established for its production and distribution.

The film premiered in Rome at the "Apollo" theater on March 12, 1914 and was later distributed in Milan, Turin, and other cities, becoming one of the most successful films of the year 1914, although it disappeared after the initial screenings. For a long time, the film was considered lost, but after decades of obscurity, a copy was found and made available by Goffredo Lombardo, owner of the production company "Titanus" and son of Leda Gys, one of the actresses who had starred in the film. A second copy is held at the Library of Congress in Washington.

The film is presented to the audience in Taranto with a live performance of the music transcribed for two pianos by Biagio Finamore.
Web: www.amicidellamusicataranto.it