Flat Earth Society Accompanies Lubitsch's OYSTER PRINCESS

The celebrated Belgian 15-piece big band Flat Earth Society, known throughout Europe for their raucously playful jazz style, will perform an original score for Ernst Lubitsch's 1919 film comedy, The Oyster Princess, at Museum of the Moving Image. The event on Friday, May 20, 2011, at 8:00 p.m., in the Museum's beautiful new 267-seat film theater, marks the U. S. premiere of the performance, which has been seen at major festivals in Europe and Central America. The group will also present excerpts from their latest project, Hearsee, an ever-mutating audiovisual montage of composed and improvised music accompanying archival film clips.

Tickets are $15 / $10 for Museum members and free for Silver Screen members and above. Order tickets online at http://movingimage.us or by calling 718 777 6800.

A stylistic leap forward for Lubitsch from his early slapstick to the visual sophistication he would become famous for, The Oyster Princess is a satire of capitalism and royalism that takes place on extravagant sets described by Dave Kehr as being "posed somewhere between Expressionism and Futurism." In the film, an American seafood tycoon tries to find a royal husband for his daughter. (The Oyster Princess, 1919. Germany. 68 mins. Directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Screenplay by Lubitsch, Hanns Kräly. With Victor Janson, Ossi Oswalda, Herry Liedtke, Julius Falkenstein.)

The unique score was originally composed by Flat Earth Society band leader Peter Vermeersch for the 2005 Flanders International Film Festival. The Guardian has described the score as "twisting rapidly from theatrical bombast to tenderness, collective improv, mad movie-chase music and back to swinging anthems." For more information about the band, visit http://www.fes.be/.

Members of Flat Earth Society include Peter Vermeersch (composer), Stefaan Blancke (trombone), Benjamin Boutreur (alto sax), Berlinde Deman (tuba), Luc Van Lieshout (trumpet), Bart Maris (trumpet), Michael Mast (tenor sax), Marc Meeuwissen (trombone), Kristof Roseeuw (double bass), Bruno Vansina (alto and baritone sax), Peter Vandenberghe (piano and keyboards), Teun Verbruggen (percussion), Pierre Vervloesem (guitar), Wim Willaert (accordion and keyboards), Tom Wouters (clarinet, vibraphone, vocals).

MUSEUM INFORMATION

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, 10:30 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Armory Arts Week Extended Hours on Friday, March 4: 8:00 to 11 p.m. (regular admission applies). (Closed on Monday except for holiday openings).
Film Screenings: See schedule above for schedule.
Museum Admission: $10.00 for adults; $7.50 for persons over 65 and for students with ID; $5.00 for children ages 3-18. Children under 3 and Museum members are admitted free. Admission to the galleries is free on Fridays, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Paid admission includes film screenings (except for special ticketed events and Friday evenings). Tickets for special programs may be purchased in advance by phone at 718.777.6800 or online.
Location: 35 Avenue at 37 Street in Astoria.
Subway: R or M trains (R on weekends) to Steinway Street. N or Q trains to 36 Avenue.
Program Information: Telephone: 718.777.6888; Website: http://movingimage.us