John Malkovich Dons White Tie to Play Romanian Conductor Sergiu Celibidache in First Look Image from ‘The Yellow Tie’ (EXCLUSIVE)

K.J. Yossman
·2 min read
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John Malkovich has transformed into Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache in first look images from biopic “The Yellow Tie.”

“The Yellow Tie” is part of a new spate of conductor biopics that also includes “Tar” and “Maestro.” The film, which VMI Worldwide will introduce to buyers in Cannes, spans seven decades of Celibidache’s life, with Ben Schnetzer (“3 Body Problem”) playing the musical virtuoso in his youth as he battles personal and global instability to become the youngest ever conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and eventually one of the world’s most celebrated conductors.

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Ben Schnetzer in ‘The Yellow Tie’ (Adi Marineci/Oblique Media courtesy of Celeb Films)
Ben Schnetzer in ‘The Yellow Tie’ (Adi Marineci/Oblique Media courtesy of Celeb Films)

For the role, Malkovich conducted a concert in Bucharest surrounded by 4,300 extras.

“The Lord of the Rings” star Sean Bean plays Celibidache’s harsh father, who throws out his son after discovering he wants to pursue a career in classical music, while Miranda Richardson (“Good Omens”) appears as Celibidache’s wife Ioana. Kate Phillips (“Wolf Hall”) plays Ioana in her youth.

The cast also includes Charlie Rowe (“Rocketman”), Tamzin Merchant (“Carnival Row”) and Anton Lesser (“Game of Thrones”).

Kate Phillips and Sean Bean in ‘The Yellow Tie’ (Adi Marineci/Oblique Media courtesy of Celeb Films)
Kate Phillips and Sean Bean in ‘The Yellow Tie’ (Adi Marineci/Oblique Media courtesy of Celeb Films)

Celibidache’s son Serge Celebidachi co-wrote the film with James Olivier and also directed the project.

“It was a big challenge and a steep learning curve to portray Sergiu Celibidache in the new film ‘The Yellow Tie,’” Malovich tells Variety. “Celibidache was a spectacularly gifted, complex and mercurial character and I was greatly aided in the endeavour by Celibidache’s son Serge, who skillfully directed the film, Konrad von Abel who was charged with the perhaps unenviable task of teaching me conducting and my colleague Miranda Richardson, whose work I value profoundly. The opportunity to collaborate with her again was a treasure long desired.”

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