Frankenstein – The Movie Score

Frankenstein – The Movie Score  (70 minutes)

Commissioned by the Boris Koutzen Fund and premiered in 2002 by The Chappaqua Orchestra, conducted by Michael Shapiro, at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s adjunct Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville, New York

Available for score and parts rental in four versions (chamber orchestra, full orchestra, wind ensemble, and opera)

Please contact my publisher Universal Edition/Wien at
https://www.universaledition.com/michael-shapiro-8499

Recording on Paumanok Records of the Overture to Frankenstein-The Movie Score played by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Shapiro

Reviews for Michael Shapiro’s score to the 1931 film Frankenstein are overwhelmingly positive, highlighting how it adds significant emotional depth and a modern, contemporary feel to the classic horror film, which originally lacked a musical score. Critics have praised the score for being haunting, majestic, and able to handle the film’s tonal shifts, while a recent operatic version incorporates a Latin Requiem Mass libretto, further enhancing the work’s emotional impact and allowing for new interpretations of the monster’s soul.  

Key aspects of the reviews:
  • Enhances the Film’s Impact: 

    Reviewers note that Shapiro’s score significantly increases the emotional impact of the 1931 film, which was originally produced without music. 

  • Modern and Evocative: 

    The music is described as contemporary and classical, providing a new emotional underpinning and successfully echoing the film’s themes, particularly the mirroring relationship between Dr. Frankenstein and the monster. 

  • Praise for the Operatic Version: 

    A recent operatic adaptation uses the Latin Requiem Mass as a libretto for singers, which critics have found to be incredibly powerful and moving, adding a profound layer to the narrative. 

  • Handles Tonal Shifts: 

    The score is also lauded for its ability to gracefully navigate the film’s sudden shifts in tone, easing the audience through both its experiments and its more serious moments. 

  • Widely Performed: 

    Shapiro’s work has been performed more than 75 times worldwide since its premiere in 2002, testament to its widespread appeal and acclaim. 

  • Composer Michael Shapiro: 

    Acknowledges that a composer and conductor, Shapiro, was commissioned to write the first full music score for the 1931 film Frankenstein. 

  • The Operatic Version: 

    Details how a recent operatic version was performed, with singers using a libretto based on the Latin Requiem Mass. 

  • The Score’s Musicality: 

    Describes how the score uses contrasting musical themes to reflect the characters’ different aspects, with sinister themes for the doctor and tender, haunting music for the monster. 

  • Emotional Resonance: 

    Notes the beautiful and heartbreaking effect of the operatic score, especially during the final scenes. 

  • Historical Significance: 
    Highlights that this work by Shapiro adds a new, modern dimension to a classic film, and how it is a unique way to bring the film to new audiences. 

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