Sándor Korda: The Man with the Golden Touch (1918) – Film Concert Gergely Dubóczky and the Győr Philharmonic Orchestra

This meticulously crafted film, shot on location, is a faithful adaptation of Mór Jókai’s romantic novel. Of the three film versions of the novel, this is the earliest. Long considered lost, it is one of the finest examples of Hungarian silent film production, and was created amidst the trying circumstances of the final year of World War I. The film’s stunning colours were achieved through a process known as virage. The director, Sándor Korda, later left Hungary and gained fame in the international film industry as Alexander Korda. The new music composed for the film was written by Bence Farkas, who earned the film music award at Müpa Budapest’s 2020 composition competition with this work.

Before the screening, starting at 5 pm, the film historian Márton Kurutz will give a brief introduction to the film and the music written for it with the help of the composer Bence Farkas. 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 2021.
The event is taking place with the support of the National Film Institute, the organisers of the Budapest Classical Film Marathon.

Conductor: Gergely Dubóczky
Featuring: Győr Philharmonic Orchestra

Creators:
Music - Bence Farkas
Director - Sándor Korda

Presented by: Müpa Budapest
Photo: © National Film Institute - Film Archive