In Aubagne, the Cannes National Orchestra plays the music from Marcel Pagnol’s films for the first time

This unique concert was made possible by a passionate musicologist who transcribed these melodies into scores. It was organized as part of the fiftieth anniversary of the author’s death.

A few minutes before the concert, comfortably seated on the Charles de Gaulle esplanade in Aubagne, the spectators sing along to tunes that rocked their childhood. Those from the film scores of Marcel Pagnol, who died 50 years ago, on April 18, 1974.

On the occasion of this fiftieth anniversary of the death of The academician, playwright, writer and filmmaker, his hometown of Provence paid him a vibrant tribute on Friday, August 2. The Cannes National Orchestra performed for the first time in public the melodies of Pagnol’s emblematic films.

Before the eyes of the spectators, the musicians of the Orchestre national de Cannes conducted by Benjamin Levy, play the musical compositions of Pagnol’s greatest films, illustrated of photos from filming and sets. My mother’s castle, Marius, Caesar, Angela, The Baker’s Wife, in a few notes, all these monuments of the 7th art come back to life. An immersive and unique concert that touches the hearts of the admirers of the great filmmaker. “It’s very bold, we understand how important the bridges between image and music were for Pagnol,” notes a spectator. “I am passionate about Pagnol, it brings back a lot of memories, we are moved when we hear the music from his films”, confides a spectator.

Recorded in 1932 for the needs of the film Fannythe music composed by Marseille composer Vincent Scotto had not been played again since it was recorded in the studio. The same goes for the soundtrack of Caesar, Marius Or Angela, and many more. And for good reason, these scores had disappeared, so they all had to be transcribed. At the time, the scores were not intended to be reinterpreted, so they were not preserved. It was therefore an archaeo-musicology mission that the experts carried out. “The work was done by ear. As these scores no longer exist, we have a few tracks, a few piano reductions, this is the case for the music ofAngela for which we have a piano version that can help the orchestrator to reconstruct”, explains musicologist Julien Ferrando.

In addition to these classics, the musical program was enriched by modern creations by renowned composers such as Jean-Claude Petit for Manon of the SourcesVladimir Cosma for The glory of my father And My Mother’s Castle and Philippe Rombi for The Time of Secrets.

Performed outdoors, these melodies from Marcel Pagnol’s films recreate the entire universe of a cinema monument. A cinema where music already had a central role in the dramaturgy and the screenplay.

Comics, animated biopic or musical comedy projects, future museum: festivities for the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Marcel Pagnol throughout France until the end of 2024.