Pianist Robert Bruce presents a timeless story to a Fernie audience. A man, who has a passion for life, makes a deal with the devil, selling his very soul for unlimited knowledge and secular pleasures. He surrenders his moral integrity for power, pleasure and success. And the story ends in tears, as many of the arrangements like these often do. However it makes for a great story, in this case the German legend of Faust. The legend was popularized by German playwright Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Although written as a closet drama, it is the play with the largest audience numbers on German-language stages. Faust is Goethe's most famous work and considered by many to be one of the greatest works of German literature.
In 1926, Director F.W. Murnau made a silent film of the tale of Faust. This cinematic version draws on the older traditions of the legendary tale of Faust as well as on Goethe’s classic version.
Robert Bruce has been presenting live music and silent film programs since 2002 and Faust has been described as his most striking in terms of the synergy between music and film, having a deep and haunting effect. Hearing Robert play one will find that he is an articulate masterful pianist who plays with emotion in every note. Robert will be accompanying the 1926 film adaptation of the tale Faust on Piano for the pleasure of the patrons of The Arts Station in Fernie.
The Arts Station presents Pianist Robert Bruce and Faust on Monday, October 24 at 8 p.m.
By Colin Lock
Contributor