Silent Film Classic ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ Gets Live Organ Accompaniment Sunday at TAMIU

The era of silent films has long passed, but this Sunday, May 17 the art form roars to life with a special screening of the horror classic “The Phantom of the Opera,” at 3 p.m. at Texas A&M International University’s Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall.

Completing the innovative offering will be a live, improvised accompaniment on the Sharkey Corrigan Pipe Organ by TAMIU assistant professor of Organ and Piano, Dr. Colin Campbell.

The presentation is free of charge and open to the public.

“This is a great opportunity to link to one of the landmark silent movies and the tradition of live accompaniment, while also showing the broad spectrum of the Sharkey Corrigan Organ’s majestic sounds.  I think audiences of all ages are in for a treat,” Dr. Campbell said.

To see a preview of Dr. Campbell’s  performance, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7c5qEMt81U

“The Phantom of the Opera” (1925) is an American silent horror film adaptation of the Gaston Leroux novel directed by Rupert Julian. It featured the legendary Lon Chaney as the deformed Phantom haunting the Paris Opera House.  ‘The Phantom’ unleashes a campaign of murder and mayhem to encourage the House’s management to cast the woman he adores as its star.

It is perhaps most famous for Chaney's horrific, self-applied make-up, kept a studio secret until the film's premiere. Other movies and a musical have retold the tale.

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