Terence Davies' The House of Mirth, is a tragic love story set against a background of wealth and social hypocrisy in turn of the century New York. Based on the classic Edith Wharton novel. Gillian Anderson stars as Lily Bart, a ravishing socialite at the height of her success who quickly discovers the precariousness of her position when her beauty and charm starts attracting unwelcome interest and jealousy. Torn between her heart and her head, Lilly always seems to do the right thing at the wrong time. She seeks a wealthy husband and in trying to conform to social expectations, she misses her chance for real love with Lawrence Seldon (Eric Stolz).

Lawrence Selden:
Isn't marriage your vocation? Isn't it what you're all brought up for?


Lily Bart:
You speak as if I should marry the first man who came along.

Composed by Alessandro Marcello
Performed by Ferenc Erkel Chamber Orchestra
Courtesy of Naxos Recordings