The Phantom of the Opera is a 1925 American silent horror film adaptation of Gaston Leroux's novel of the same name directed by Rupert Julian and starring Lon Chaney in the title role of the deformed Phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House, causing murder and mayhem in an attempt to make the woman he loves a star.

Release date: 29 June 1925 (UK)
Directors: Lon Chaney, Rupert Julian, Edward Sedgwick, Ernst Laemmle
Screenplay: Walter Anthony, Richard Wallace

Step into the golden age of cinema with a spine-tingling evening of silent film and live music!
As part of his fifth annual Silent Film Tour, celebrated Scottish organist Aaron Hawthorne returns with The Phantom of the Opera (1925) - one of the most iconic horror films of all time. This gothic masterpiece, starring the legendary Lon Chaney as the disfigured Phantom haunting the Paris Opera House, remains as haunting and visually striking today as it was a century ago.

But this is no ordinary screening…

Prepare to be transported as Aaron brings the film to life with a thrilling live accompaniment on the digital organ at St Cyprian’s, Lenzie. Every emotion, chase, and eerie moment will be underscored in real-time, just as audiences experienced it in the silent era.

Aaron is an award-winning concert and silent film organist from North Lanarkshire, known for his dynamic and accessible performances across the UK, Europe, and USA. His unique style and deep love for the art of silent film have earned him international acclaim, including winning the Young Theatre Organist of the Year in both the UK and the USA.

This event is part of Aaron’s 2025 Silent Film Tour, which showcases the unforgettable horrors of the silent era, including The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920), Dr. Jekyll & Mr Hyde (1920) and Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922). 

Whether you're a film lover, music enthusiast, or just curious to experience something spectacularly different, this promises to be a night to remember! 

Aaron Hawthorne is a sought-after silent film and concert organist from North Lanarkshire, Scotland, with a Master of Arts degree in Music from the University of Glasgow. He performs regularly across the UK, Europe, and the USA, known for his engaging organ recitals and silent film accompaniments. Aaron began his career at Motherwell Cathedral and has served as a principal organist in several churches. Since 2017, he has been a house organist at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum in Glasgow. His passion for theatre and cinema organs started in his teens during a visit to Blackpool's Tower Ballroom.

In 2019, Aaron won the Young Theatre Organist Competition in New York after winning the UK title earlier, and later received the Ian Sutherland Award for his promise as a theatre organist. He is active in organ preservation societies and is also an Arts Development Officer for North Lanarkshire Council, a role in which he advocates for accessible community arts. Aaron has completed four annual UK silent film tours, performing classics like "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925), "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror”(1922), and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”(1923) earning praise for introducing new audiences to silent films and the pipe organ's unique sound world.

www.hawthorgan.com