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Bill Murray Reads Poetry and Sings ‘I Feel Pretty’ in ‘New Worlds: The Cradle of Civilization’ Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)

In 2018, Bill Murray joined famous cellist, Jan Vogler, on stage at the historic Acropolis in Athens, Greece, for a night of timeless poetry and music. Captured on film by director Andrew Muscato, the magical performance will soon become a feature film, premiering in July at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

Spanning from Bach to Van Morrison, Walt Whitman to “West Side Story,” “New Worlds: The Cradle of Civilization” showcases the range of art that has influenced American and European culture and helped bridge the gap between the two.

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The trailer opens with Murray reading Whitman’s poem “Song of the Open Road, 9” before launching into “I Feel Pretty” from “West Side Story,” all behind a sweeping classical music trio led by world-renowned cellist Vogler and featuring Mira Wang on violin and Vanessa Perez on piano.

“New Worlds: The Cradle of Civilization” captures the final performance of Murray and Vogler’s European “New Worlds” tour.

The unlikely collaboration enchants the Athenian audience from the 2,000 year-old stage of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus with touching musical numbers that exude love, hope and heartbreak.

The film is a production of Dorn Music, Neda Film and Makuhari Media. Tanja Dorn, Amanda Livanou, Murray, Muscato and Vogler serve as producers, while Karen Duffy and Emma Doxiadi co-produce. Mike Gomes is the director of photography, and Jon Connor is editor. Rick Siegel is the lighting designer, and Chace Deschene is the live sound engineer.

“New Worlds: The Cradle of Civilization” will premiere at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

Watch the trailer above.

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