UPSTREAM, ORLAC and other silent projects

Just after my last entry I finished scoring 41 Mack Sennett shorts for Paul Gierucki that played on TCM shortly afterwards. Joanna and I accompanied the wonderful Raymond Griffith feature HANDS UP! at the Telluride Festival, and then taught a workshop for U. Colorado Denver students who collaborated with us to produce a fine score for THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI. But right after that a bizarre medical situation put me in the hospital—a pituitary tumor, benign but scary—and I was forced to cancel my appearance at the Pordenone festival for the first time in years. Fortunately I was back on my feet in a few weeks, and have spent the past several months conducting three musicals in our area—JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, PETER PAN, and OLIVER! while working on the score for John Ford's UPSTREAM for the National Film Preservation Foundation. That lovely film will be on DVD in the fall, and also on TCM. And as I write I am on my way to Vienna for the premiere of my score for THE HANDS OF ORLAC, by Robert Wiene (who directed CALIGARI). Dennis James, the fabulous organist, had asked me to write this for both of us to play at the Konzerthaus, one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world. We will rehearse and record the score and then perform on Thursday night. More soon about this!