“Astero” (1929) by the Gaziadis brothers

On Saturday April 27, the B&E Goulandris Foundation in collaboration with the Greek Film Archive will host the screening of the Gaziadis brothers’ legendary silent film “Astero”, featuring live piano music by composer and Director of the Athens Conservatoire Music Schools Filippos Tsalachouris. Admission is free of charge.

“Astero”, a pastoral romance filmed in the Kalavryta mountains in 1929, marks the first big commercial and artistic success for the Greek film industry. The film stars well-known actors of the time Aliki Theodorides, Aimilios Veakis, Kostas Mousouris and Dimitris Tsakiris, while the original story was by Pavlos Nirvanas.

Accompanying silent films with live piano music, an established practice for decades, has a strong emotional impact but is extremely difficult on the pianist because of the long duration of the films. What is even harder for the pianist is the need to follow the film closely to ensure the right coordination.

Filippos Tsalachouris, who will accompany the screening with live piano music reviving the practice that was popular in the early years of the film industry, was commissioned to write the score by the Greek Film Archive. He has presented “Astero” in many festivals and cultural venues around Greece as well as in London, most notably at the Herod Atticus Theatre in July 2018 as part of the Athens Festival.

Saturday April 27 | 20.30
B&E Goulandris Foundation Amphitheatre
13 Eratosthenous, Pangrati

Admission is free. Online advance bookings are necessary at goulandris.gr

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“Astero” (1929)

Direction	Dimitris Gaziadis
Script	Orestis Laskos, Dimitris Gaziadis (based on a story by Pavlos Nirvanas)
Starring	Aliki Theodorides, Aimilios Veakis, Kostas Mousouris, Dimitris Tsakiris
Music	Filippos Tsalachouris
Photography	Mihalis Gaziadis
Production company	DAG Film
Premiere	April 22, 1929
Runtime	57'