Tartuffe in Bielefeld: Murnau's silent film classic meets live orchestra
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When silent film meets orchestral breath: Tartuffe in Bielefeld
On Friday, November 6, 2026, the Great Hall of the Rudolf-Oetker-Halle transforms into a cinema with concert flair. At the 36th Film+MusicFest, the audience experiences Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau's silent film classic Tartuffe from 1925 – accompanied by new film music performed live by the Bielefeld Philharmonic.
Murnau's intrigue on the big screen
At the center of the film's plot is a rich old man whose greedy housekeeper wants to deceive the grandson out of his inheritance through clever trickery. A film within the film ultimately exposes her greed. Murnau combines comedy, intrigue, and theater-in-the-theater into a refined play about appearance and truth.
New music for a classic
The Bielefeld musician, composer, and conductor Bernd Wilden has composed an independent film score for Tartuffe. The score will have its world premiere on this evening. Wilden will also conduct, presenting his sixth new composition for a Murnau film with the Bielefeld Philharmonic.
Live atmosphere between image and sound
When the hall lights go out, flickering black-and-white images meet orchestral synchronization. Each gesture on the screen gains a new emotional dimension through rhythm, dynamics, and timbre. The acoustics of the Rudolf-Oetker-Halle transform the performance into an intense concert experience where film history and stage performance meet directly.
A special kickoff
As a short film, the approximately 15-minute comedy The Heartbreaker or Don Juan Marries from 1909 will be screened. Bernd Wilden presents a revised composition for it. Thus, the evening spans from the early beginnings of cinema to the orchestra score developed specifically for Bielefeld.
An evening for film and music lovers
The Film+MusicFest has stood for the rediscovery and vibrant performance of early cinematic art since 1989. The event was awarded the German Silent Film Prize in 2025 for special contributions to silent film culture. In Bielefeld, historical film aesthetics, modern concert dramaturgy, and the focused audience atmosphere of a special cultural evening come together.
Conclusion
Tartuffe promises an extraordinary film concert with Murnau's classic, a world premiere by Bernd Wilden, and the powerful live sound of the Bielefeld Philharmonic. Those who wish to not only see silent film but experience its full auditory impact should not miss this evening at the Rudolf-Oetker-Halle.
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