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A cinematic classic meets a striking new musical vision in this special screening of Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff, featuring the world premiere of a chamber ensemble score by composer Michael Shapiro. Performed live by the Argus String Quartet—praised as “vivacious” by The New Yorker—this reimagined score brings new emotional depth to the film’s iconic imagery. Shapiro’s full orchestral version has already been performed by more than 80 orchestras worldwide.

At the heart of the score is the mirrored relationship between Henry Frankenstein and his creation. “The monster is the doppelganger of Henry Frankenstein,” Shapiro notes, a connection reflected musically in unexpected ways. Dark, driving themes underscore the doctor’s ambition, while the monster is accompanied by music that is at times gentle, haunting, and deeply sympathetic. Karloff’s portrayal—imbued with a sense of soul—feels newly illuminated through this lens.

Shapiro’s score ebbs and flows alongside the film, heightening both its terror and its humanity—from the charged electricity of creation to the quiet, tragic innocence of the monster’s brief encounters with the world.

In Banning Hall

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