Date: Saturday, October 15, 2011
Time: 7PM
Venue: United Congregational Church of Holyoke
Tickets: $10.00
The Last Command (1928)
Starring Emil Jannings
Evelyn Brent & William Powell
Directed by Josef von Sternberg
88 minutes (1hr 28 min)
Organ Accompaniment by Peter Krasinski
Emil Jennings plays Grand Duke Sergius Alexander cousin to the Czar, a general in the Imperial Russian army during the darkest days of World War I. After the White Army is defeated, the Duke, broken in body and spirit, finds himself in 1928 Hollywood as an obscure extra. An old war adversary (William Powell), now a successful director hires the general to re-enact the revolution, which deposed him.
*NOTE: Josef von Sternberg an Austrian-American film director of 35 titles was particularly noted for his distinctive mise en scène, use of lighting and soft lens in his movies.
Emil Jennings was not only the first actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, but also the first person to be presented an Oscar for his performance in the Last Command.
About Peter Krasinski
Specializes in the art of live silent film accompaniment, worldwide. Appearances include Hammond Castle in Gloucester (for the International Society of Organ Builders), Irvine Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania, the John Silber Symphonic Organ at Boston University and the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts. He has premiered the art of silent film at many distinguished venues including Marsh Chapel at Boston University, Saint Joseph’s Cathedral Hartford, Saint Joseph’s Oratory Montreal, Second Congregation Church Holyoke, Old South Church Boston, as well as Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall and Harmony Hall in Fukui Japan. In 2002 Mr. Krasinski won first prize in Improvisation in the American Guild of Organists National Competition in Philadelphia, and subsequently was the featured artist at the 2004 convention in Los Angeles at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
Mr. Krasinski currently serves as Organist of First Church of Christ, Scientist in Providence and as accompanist at Beth El Temple Center Belmont. He is a faculty member of the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School, Cambridge and serves as organ consultant on a number of high profile projects. Past positions include Director of Choral Arts at Beaver Country Day School and Artistic Director of Youth pro Musica. He holds both a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and Organ Performance, and the Master of Sacred Music Degree from Boston University.
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