Silent Film

As a pianist for the the Royal Film Archive of Belgium (Cinematek) since 2001, Stéphane Orlando has provided accompaniment for over 500 silent films. With this experience, he discovered a unique way of composing the music of various silent films for chamber ensemble and orchestra.

Fûun Jôshi

For this Japanese Silent film, Stéphane Orlando’s composition approach is to draw on traditional Japanese music, in particular the song Chidori no Kyoku, performed by the two lovers in the film, but also Kabuki music, or pieces from the Japanese repertoire from the beginning of the 20th century used in the silent cinema.

Premiered in Cinematek (Brussels) the 29th of November 2023, at 19h

Tribute to the father of the Belgian documentary, Henri Storck (2021)​

Two masterpieces of silent cinema by Henri Storck:  Images d’Ostende (1929) and Misère au Borinage (1933).

According to the Belgian director, « silent cinema had developed perfect narrative forms and remarkable shooting techniques ». Storck took advantage of this medium to deliver poetic, graphic and aesthetic images, and to exploit the penetrating force of editing, intertitles and narration.

To support and sublimate Storck’s art, Stéphane Orlando has recently composed a score at just the right distance from the visual work, brought to the stage by the Ensemble Musiques Nouvelles, which he will conduct for the occasion.

Premiered in Bozar (Brussels) the 2nd of April 2022, at 20h (salle Henry Le Bœuf).

Film from the show Chant/Contre-Champs composed for the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège: Les Kiriki Acrobates

During Covid Lockdown, Stéphane Orlando has been playing piano live on Facebook for the virtual Cinematek of the Royal Film Archives of Brussels. Here you can discover two examples :