Watch John Malkovich as conductor Sergiu Celibidache in new biopic trailer

5 August 2026, 16:07

‘Dangerous Liaisons’ star to play controversial maestro in new film ‘The Yellow Tie’.

A new musical biopic about acclaimed Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache will be released in UK cinemas this October.

The Yellow Tie stars Oscar-nominated actor John Malkovich as the older Celibidache, with The Madison and Pride star Ben Schnetzer playing the conductor in younger years. The cast also includes Sean Bean, Miranda Richardson and Kate Phillips.

The film is directed and co-written by Celibidache’s son, Serge Ioan Celibidache and follows the conductor’s life from a strict childhood through his early career in Berlin, via the upheaval of war, before following his successful, and sometimes controversial, classical music career.

The Yellow Tie, which was filmed in 2023, features music by Bruckner, Berlioz and Brahms and has already been released in Romania, where it has reportedly performed strongly at the box office and won a slew of awards.

The Yellow Tie Trailer

Celibidache, considered one of the greatest 20th century conductors, if not the most enlightened, was known for refusing to release his recordings commercially, believing that the listener wouldn’t be able to have a proper transcendental experience.

He also lost a legal battle during his time at the Munich Philharmonic with trombonist Abbie Conant, who he believed couldn’t be as good as a man in the role of principal trombonist, and paid her significantly less then her male colleagues.

The Yellow Tie will be released in UK cinemas on 9 October 2026.