National gallery of art Presents

Matthew Nolan and Erik Friedlander Improvise a soundtrack to Jean Cocteau’s The Blood of a Poet

Matthew Nolan is a Dublin based musician, composer, academic and curator. He has produced new work in collaboration with some of the finest musicians around, both Irish and international. He has worked on commissions from a range of prestigious performing arts institutions, including National Gallery of Ireland, BAM and Film at Lincoln Centre in New York, The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., Kilkenny Arts Festival, Bram Stoker Festival, and the St Patrick’s Festival. His most recent projects were presented at MoLI in Dublin as part of their Ulysses centenary project and at the New York Film Festival. 2024 will see the release of Pomes Penyeach by Universal Music, produced in collaboration with Adrian Crowley and based on James Joyce’s short book of poetry. 

Erik Friedlander has released over 20 CD's as a leader and has composed music for ads, dance works, documentaries and films.  His most recent work is the film, “Baby Ruby” by first-time director Bess Wohl (2022). Other work includes “The Romanoffs” the series by Mad Men creator Matt Weiner; a special spot for America’s Got Talent and the feature films Oh Lucy! (2017), directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi and Thoroughbreds (2018), directed by Cory Finley. Other films scored by Friedlander include the documentary Nothing On Earth, directed by Mick Angus, the feature film Future Weather by Jenny Deller, the short film Spade by Mandi Riggi, and the PBS 4-part special “The Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Isrealites.”

Two extraordinary musicians tackle the signature surrealist film by Jean Cocteau, "Le sang d'un poète" (1930).  Daring and  bold the two sympatico players bring a modern take on this timeless classic.