Das malerische Luxemburg : la musique revisite le cinéma

In the library of the Casino Luxembourg, the images from these historical films took on another meaning. The selection of films curated by Paul Lesch managed to transport the audience to a black and white Luxembourg.

« I have a background in cinema history, which led me to rediscover Luxembourg, searching for the locations where certain films were shot. It gave me a new perspective on the city. I believe the audience appreciated the contrast between these period films and contemporary music, and perhaps it helped to create new imaginaries about the city within them. » said Paul.

A cinema enthusiast, the former director of the CNA often emphasized in his classes the power of music in films. Long before the famous TikTok trend, he demonstrated to his students, for instance, by changing the music of Pretty Woman, turning this Hollywood classic into a thriller or a comedy, solely through the power of music. « Film music has often been looked down upon, but that’s ridiculous, » he asserts. This sentiment is shared by our accordionist, Frin Wolter:

« The role of music here is central! In a live cinema setting, the audience focuses on the images and sometimes doesn’t realize the importance of the music. Even though the audience’s attention is on the screen, the music creates the atmosphere. It’s stimulating for musicians to participate in this type of experience; it feels like we’re pulling the strings from backstage. »