Creativity under fire: Shattered harmonies

In 1914, the composer Georges Antoine was 22 years old. He lived in Liège, the first city to be deliberately destroyed by the invading German army. He volunteered and saw active service throughout the Yser campaign, only to be struck down by illness within the first few months of immobility in the trenches.

Antoine was sent to Saint-Malo, but frantically sought permission to return to the front. During this frustrating period, he composed various pieces, including two symphonic poems, Vendanges 1914 and Veillée d’arme, a sonata for violin and piano, a keyboard quartet and a number of melodies.

In 1917 he was re-enlisted and took part in the victorious counter-offensive. In October 1918 he entered Bruges, which had been recaptured. Victory was close at hand ... but so too was disease. He died of ‘exhaustion’ in a military hospital which had been set up in the suburbs of Bruges. The date was 15 November 1918.

A century later, Yvon Lammens’ documentary retraces this tragic story. Drawing on the composer’s correspondence, the film features the words of Georges Antoine and considers his relevance in the 21st century through the eyes of the musicians who have revived his sonata and his keyboard quartet.

Following the screening of the film, Georges Antoine’s sonata for violin and piano will be performed by Shirly Laub, violin, and Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden, piano.

Flagey, Cinémathèque de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles