Plane / Counterplane.
George Méliès, filmmaker of the possible

The Museum's film cycles are conceived as a counterplan that dialogues and expands the themes, forms and questions proposed to the public from the artistic programming of each season at the Museum. 

On this occasion, through a series of CINEMA MEETINGS, the spirit of cinema is recovered and explored in the Pamplona Meetings of '72, which are now 50 years old.

This cycle consists of two proposals:

• Screening of the documentary Encuentros 72, Pamplona, by José Antonio Sistiaga, with live commentary by journalist Manuel Hidalgo. 4 NOV / 19:00
• George Méliès, filmmaker of the possible. Screening of five films by Méliès with live musical accompaniment. 5 NOV / 19:00
  Music by OCAZEnigma (Chamber Orchestra of the Zaragoza Auditorium "Grupo Enigma") with Asier Puga as musical and artistic director.

George Méliès, filmmaker of the possible

5 NOV / 19:00
Theater
3 €
Free admission for Museum Members

Various titles
Director: George Méliès
Running time: 74 minutes

"As part of the film program of the Pamplona Meetings of '72, five films by George Méliès (1861-1938) were shown at the Cine Príncipe de Viana in Pamplona. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Encounters, these exciting silent films are now being recovered, accompanied by live music by orchestra conductor Asier Puga. Four composers from different generations present four world premieres at the Museum to accompany the amusing and imaginative films of the French filmmaker.

In those '72 Meetings, the inclusion of this pioneer of French cinema whose filmography was skewed by the First World War was due to the idea of confronting the past with the present that animated the spirit of the Meetings, but also to the conviction that an experimental cinema, beyond the strictly narrative, was possible.

Film critic and historian George Sadoul spoke of Méliès as "the Giotto of the seventh art", referring to his innovative talent. Considered the father of special effects, his films, with their exploratory spirit, both narratively and aesthetically, and their playful and sometimes even humorous tone, show that cinema, as an art of light, is like a conjuring laboratory where anything is possible.

In his films we find trickery, work with models, overexposures, fades and also color, painted directly by hand on celluloid. All this research with image and technique highlights the role of montage and editing as the absolute pillars of cinematographic art and links Méliès with other later "film experimenters" such as Buñuel, Gelabert, Man Ray, Aguirre or Sistiaga.

Program

Concert by OCAZEnigma (Chamber Orchestra of the Zaragoza Auditorium "Grupo Enigma").

Musical and artistic direction: Asier Puga

PERFORMERS

Antonio Nuez, flute
Emilio Ferrando, clarinet
Víctor Parra, violin
Zsolt G. Tottzer, cello
Juan Carlos Segura, piano

PROGRAM

Le voyage dans la lune***, (1902). 14'
Music composed by Fabià Santcovsky (1989) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and electronics. 

Le royaume des fées** (1903) 16'.
Music composed by Carolina Cerezo (1993) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and electronics.

Le melómane** ( 1903). 3'
Music composed by Zuriñe F. Gerenabarrena (1965) for electronics. 

Le voyage à traves l'impossible* (1904). 24'
Early 20th century French music arranged by Miguel Matamoro for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano.

Les quatres-cents farces du diable*** (1906) 17'.
Music composed by Sergio Blardony (1965) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and electronics. 

*Absolute premiere, commissioned by the OCAZEnigma for the MUN
**Touring Premiere, commissioned by the OCAZEnigma
***Tour premiere, commissioned by the OCAZEnigma for the INAEM

Related events:

- José Luis Alexanco Exhibition

This screening is part of the Encuentros de Pamplona 72-22 calendar, a cultural event that has brought together many cultural institutions that contribute their own approach to the 50th anniversary of the original Encuentros de Pamplona of '72 promoted by the Huarte family and organized by the ALEA Group, of which Alexanco was a member.