Vladigerov brothers to perform live score for silent film at Vienna

The Vladigerov brothers will provide a live musical accompaniment to a silent film at Vienna’s Metro Kulturhaus cinema, marking their second time taking on the challenge. The historic Metro Kino has been run by the Austrian Film Archive since 2002, showcasing films that have been significant to the development of the movie industry, and reviving the tradition of screening silent films with live music.

The Bulgarian duo are known for their blend of modern jazz and Balkan motifs, and have long secured a place on the international scene, according to the Bulgarian community blog Melange Bulgaren. On 27 November, they will perform in the historic hall of the cinema to accompany The Curse, one of Austria’s earliest films, which was released in 1924. The story follows Jehuda Nachman, who strays from strict Jewish laws and faces the anger of his community. Critics describe the film as “a work about guilt and the search for forgiveness, offering an exceptionally authentic portrayal of Jewish society at the time”.

The twin grandsons of the renowned Bulgarian composer Pancho Vladigerov have lived and worked in Austria for decades, yet they maintain strong ties to Bulgaria and its diaspora. They graduated from the jazz department at the Vienna Conservatory.