Buster Keaton: The General (1926) – Film Concert Apor Szüts and the Budafok Dohnanyi Orchestra

The most famous locomotive in film history, The General, and one of the most original comedians of all time, Buster Keaton, left an indelible mark on cinema history nearly a century ago in 1926. It may come as a surprise, but this film, later ranked among the top 100 American movies, was not a success in its time. Over the decades, various composers have written accompanying music for this silent film, adding diverse sound effects to make it “audible”. On this occasion, Apor Szüts has taken on the task of composing new symphonic music, meant to be performed live, and provide an aural backdrop to this visually stunning and thrilling 70-minute film set during the American Civil War. The composer of this music rich in melodies, ideas and unique orchestral flourishes is following in the footsteps of such greats as Richard Strauss, the two-time Oscar winner Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Emil Petrovics.

Before the screening, starting at 7.30 pm, the film historian Janka Barkóczi will give a brief introduction to the film and the music written for it with the help of the composer and conductor Apor Szüts. The discussion will be conducted in Hungarian.

The film music was premièred as part of the Bartók Spring International Art Weeks presented by Müpa Budapest in April 2025.
The event is taking place with the support of the National Film Institute, the organisers of the Budapest Classical Film Marathon.

Conductor: Apor Szüts
Featuring: Budafok Dohnanyi Orchestra

Creators:
Composer - Apor Szüts
Director - Buster Keaton

Presented by: Müpa Budapest
Photo: © United Artists Picture