A SCREENING of the unique silent film ‘The Battle of the Somme’ will take place at Bromsgrove School on Sunday November 11 backed by live music from a 60 piece orchestra.
Members from the Orchestra of St John will play Laura Rossi’s powerful music over a digitally remastered version of the film.
The score was commissioned by the Imperial War Museum in 2016 to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.
The orchestra will play at the Routh Concert Hall and based in the school, and will be led by Richard Jenkinson, former lead cellist with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and now with the world-renowned Dante Quartet.
Prior to the screening there will be a talk from the composer who will discuss the score and her approach to writing it and also from former Deputy Head and author of ‘Bromsgrove School at War 1914-19’.
‘The Battle of the Somme’ was the first feature length documentary about war and in the first three months of its release was seen by around 20 million people in Britain and Ireland.
The Worcestershire Regiment contributed eight Battalions at the Battle of the Somme and lost more than 1,000 men, with a further 363 killed fighting in a range of other regiments and units.
Nine Victoria crosses were awarded to soldiers from the county.
Doors will open at 6.45pm and the film will begin at 7.45pm.
Tickets are £15 per person and the profit from ticket sales will go to military charity Help for Heroes.
Bookings can be made at www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/whats-on or by calling the Box Office on 01527 579679.
