Arts | ‘Triplets of Belleville’ cine-concert to be performed tonight

A screening of the award-winning animation, “The Triplets of Belleville,” will be held at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) tonight accompanied by a live orchestral performance led by the original film score composer, Benoît Charest.
The cine-concert combines what is usually considered animator Sylvain Chomet’s most high-profile film, nominated for two Oscars in 2003, and Charest’s diverse musical cast including trumpet, trombone, accordion players and percussionists.
“In animation you need to have a very precise idea of the timing,” Charest said yesterday during a press conference. “I created a lot of the music without the animation after having the scene described.” Later the animation would be created to synchronize with the soundtrack.
“I think every film is a special event. You need to adapt to the needs of the director; that is what makes a good [score composer], along with meeting the right tone for the movie,” Charest argued.
The award-winning animation tells the bizarre story of a young and fat Tour de France cyclist who is kidnapped by mysterious square-shouldered mafia henchmen and taken to a brimming metropolis. His near-sighted grandmother and faithful dog give chase to the kidnappers and along the way get taken in by a trio of eccentric jazz divas.
According to Charest, the performance of the cine-concert in Macau is the first in Asia. They will next perform in Taipei, before heading to the U.S. in April, and possibly Australia in autumn.
Charest adds that a part of the reason that he joined the orchestra for the cine-concert tour “is [to get] a chance to get out of the studio. Why not? I wrote it, so let’s try it.”
The performance will be held tonight at 8 p.m. in the Grand Auditorium at CCM, and will run for about 75 minutes without intermission. DB