Briggs will showcase his extraordinary talent on our iconic organ, as he creates a thrilling live soundtrack to the haunting silent film. This performance will be totally unique, blending masterful musicianship with cinematic drama as he delivers an unforgettable, once in a lifetime concert.

His electrifying improvisation will transform the silent classic into a powerful, one-night-only experience, where music and film merge in breathtaking harmony within the Cathedral’s awe-inspiring setting.

About David Briggs

David Briggs stands among the most distinguished British organists of our time, celebrated worldwide for his extraordinary command of improvisation. His ability to shape music in the moment has not only captivated audiences across the globe but has also inspired a new generation of organists to embrace the art of improvisation.

Sustaining an improvised musical narrative for the full length of a feature film is a rare and demanding skill. While live accompaniment was once a standard part of early cinema, few musicians today practise it at this level. David Briggs is exceptional in the scale, ambition and consistency of his work in this field, helping to revive and popularise an art form that speaks far beyond traditional organ audiences.

Alongside his film performances, Briggs remains a leading recitalist and a highly prolific composer. His film repertoire is extensive and ever expanding, with past accompaniments including Metropolis, The Lodger, and classic shorts by Chaplin and Keaton. Each performance is shaped anew, making every concert a distinctive and unrepeatable experience.

About The Film – The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

Rupert Julian’s 1925 silent film The Phantom of the Opera remains one of the most enduring and atmospheric adaptations of Gaston Leroux’s novel. At its heart is Lon Chaney’s legendary portrayal of the Phantom, whose haunting presence within the Paris Opera House has secured the film’s place in cinema history.

Chaney’s performance is inseparable from his startling, self-created make-up, revealed to audiences only at the film’s premiere and still capable of shocking a century later. His Phantom is both terrifying and tragic, driving the story of obsession, ambition and doomed love that unfolds amid the shadows of the opera house.

The film features a strong supporting cast including Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry and Arthur Edmund Carewe, and stands as a landmark of silent cinema. Seen today, accompanied live by improvised organ music, it regains much of the immediacy and power that early audiences would have experienced, drawing viewers fully into its dark and mesmerising world.

Event Timings

5pm-6.15pm – Pre-Concert Dinner (optional)
See details below

6pm – Concert Venue Doors Open

6.30pm-7pm – Pre-Concert Talk (optional)
Ahead of the concert, world-renowned organist David Briggs will discuss his approach to improvisation. Taking place in the South Transept, seating is unreserved and is subject to availability and is on a first-come, first-served basis.

7.30pm-9.30pm – The Phantom of the Opera Live Improvisation Concert

Blackburn Cathedral