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Michael Shapiro

Frankenstein - The Movie Score

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Frankenstein (1931) Trailer, James Whale
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1 Frankenstein - The Movie Score

James Whale's film classic Frankenstein (1931), starring Boris Karloff, was released without a musical score, as were many films in those early days of the talkie.  A number of critics, including Leonard Maltin, have remarked that Frankenstein is badly in need of music.  Michael Shapiro's 70-minute score is written to be played simultaneously with the screening of the film.  For modern-day concert- and moviegoers, his haunting music adds significantly to the emotional impact of the film.

Michael Shapiro was commissioned in 2002 by the Boris Koutzen Foundation to write this film score. The world premiere of this work, with live chamber orchestra and film, occurred in October 2002 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Jacob Burns Film Center in New York. Since its premiere, it has received over 50 performances worldwide, including its European premiere at the Bergen International Festival in Norway, and at the Mariinsky Theater Film Annex in St. Petersburg, with major symphony orchestras in the United States, Canada, and the U.K., by Federal service bands such as the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C., and the Royal Canadian Air Force Band (La Musique de Aviation royale canadienne) in Winnepeg, and university ensembles throughout the Americas.

The overture of the full orchestral version was recorded by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in the U.K. Due to its worldwide popularity, Michael Shapiro's Frankenstein is available in four (4) versions:

Chamber orchestra (15 players)(adaptable for strings into a theater orchestra version (25-35 players)
Full symphony orchestra (70+ players with double winds and added percussion) (premiered by the Virginia Symphony)
Wind ensemble (premiered by the Dallas Winds at Meyerson Symphony Center)
New operatic version for five singers and chamber orchestra (libretto is the Latin Requiem Mass)
Duration: 70 minutes

Michael Shapiro has written in virtually all genres, including opera, symphony, concerto, choral and chamber works, and over 100 songs.

Michael Shapiro's works have been performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe-with broadcasts of premieres on National Public Radio, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Israel Broadcasting Authority, Sender Freies Berlin, WQXR, and WCBS-TV. His music, which spans across all media, has been characterized in a New York Times review as "possessing a rare melodic gift." His oeuvre includes more than 100 works for solo voice, piano, chamber ensembles, chorus, orchestra, as well as for opera, film, and television, with recordings on Naxos and Paumanok Records.

  • Michael Shapiro chats with Harmonious World
    Posted At: October 29, 2024
    Michael Shapiro's works have been performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe-with broadcasts of premieres on National Public Radio, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Israel Broadcasting Authority, Sender Freies Berlin, WQXR, and WCBS-TV. His music, which spans across all media, has been characterized in a New York Times review as "possessing a rare melodic gift." His oeuvre includes...

  • Michael Shapiro's flute concerto: 'In the Light of the Sun' is richly layered and endlessly rewarding / Review Graveyard
    Posted At: October 7, 2024
    Michael Shapiro has written over 100 works for orchestral, theatrical, film, chamber, choral, and vocal forces and conducts internationally. His music has been performed by many of the world’s great orchestras (including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in the UK) and performers in North America and Europe. Much of his music is ...

  • Michael Shaprio chats about 'In The Light Of The Sun' with Montana Public Radio
    Posted At: September 25, 2024
    Michael Shapiro's works have been performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe-with broadcasts of premieres on National Public Radio, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Israel Broadcasting Authority, Sender Freies Berlin, WQXR, and WCBS-TV. His music, which spans across all media, has been characterized in a New York Times review as "possessing a rare melodic gift." His oeuvre includes...

  • 'Frankenstein' resurrected with new music score by Michael Shapiro and performed by the LA Opera / SPECTRUM NEWS ONE
    Posted At: October 27, 2022
    Michael Shapiro's works have been performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe-with broadcasts of premieres on National Public Radio, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Israel Broadcasting Authority, Sender Freies Berlin, WQXR, and WCBS-TV. His music, which spans across all media, has been characterized in a New York Times review as "possessing a rare melodic gift." His oeuvre includes...

  • World Premiere of Michael Shapiro's Voices of the Holocaust' comes to NYC's Central Synagogue / BroadwayWorld
    Posted At: September 29, 2022
    BroadwayWorld's Stephi Wild writes……The World Premiere of Michael Shapiro's VOICES is set to take place at New York City's famed Central Synagogue, Thursday, November 10, 2022 (652 Lexington Avenue, E. 55th Street). Tickets for the concert are free and available to the public starting Monday, September 12 by registering at the Central Synagogue website. This performance will feature Daniel Mutlu, the Senior...

  • THE MONSTER IS COMING HOME! Michael Shapiro's 'Frankenstein' premieres Live with the L.A. OPERA
    Posted At: September 29, 2022
    Just in time for Halloween, a special two day showing of the 1931 classic film, Frankenstein, will play at The Theater at the Ace Hotel Friday October 28-29th, 2022. Originally released without a musical score, composer Michael Shapiro was inspired to craft a soundtrack for the horror masterpiece. As the classic film plays on the big screen, he'll conduct his critically-acclaimed and atmospheric score, perf...

  • The LA Opera is back with their hugely popular Halloween mash-up, featuring Frankenstein. Score by Michael Shapiro
    Posted At: February 7, 2022
    The LA Opera is back for their hugely popular annual Halloween mash-up of film and opera at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. This time they've got the Boris Karloff shocker; ‘Frankenstein’ on the big screen, complete with mad scientist, bumbling henchman and mob of torch-bearing villagers.This 1931 masterpiece of horror was originally released without a musical score, which inspired composer Michael Shapiro to fil...

  • SSU Wind Ensemble performs Michael Shapiro's 'Frankenstein' score for screening of 1931 film / Sonoma State Star
    Posted At: November 1, 2021

    To celebrate Halloween, the Sonoma State CA - Music Department put on a screening of the 1931 film "Frankenstein," at the Green Music Center. The SSU Wind Ensemble performed a live musical soundtrack by Michael Shapiro. The basic storyline of "Frankenstein" is that a mad scientist, Doctor Frankenstein wanted to create life from a mixture of different dead bodies; however, instead of making an almost huma...

  • Western Piedmont Symphony launches inaugural 'Foothills Pops Series' With Frankenstein!
    Posted At: October 18, 2021

    James Whale's film classic Frankenstein (1931), starring Boris Karloff, was released without a musical score, as were many films in those early days of the talkie.  A number of critics, including Leonard Maltin, have remarked that Frankenstein is badly in need of music.  Michael Shapiro's 70-minute score is written to be played simultaneously with the screening of the film.&nb...

  • INTERPLAY, Conversations in Music - Michael Shapiro chats with GIANCARLO GUERRERO
    Posted At: September 10, 2021

    By Michael Shapiro GIANCARLO GUERRERO is a miraculous conductor. A six-time GRAMMY Award-winning conductor, Music Director of theNashville Symphony and NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic and Principal Guest Conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon, Maestro Guerrero possesses naturally what I can only call unique elan. What does this mean. For me, his attention to every phrase, how he shapes line, his or...

  • Michael Shapiro takes FM91 - Toledo on a journey through his Peace Variations
    Posted At: May 20, 2021

    In this intimate conversation, composer, conductor, and host of the Interplay YouTube series Michael Shapiro takes us on a journey through his Peace Variations – a Theme and 18 Variations on the traditional melody of Shalom Aleichem ("peace be upon you"), played by the virtuoso violinist Tim Fain. Shapiro's beautiful and thought-provoking music represents a calm yet persistent voice – a c...

  • Harmonious World Podcast chats with Michael Shapiro about 'Peace Variations for solo violin'
    Posted At: April 7, 2021

    Hilary Robertson of Harmonious World Podcast was delighted to be joined for a second conversation with composer Michael Shapiro. The two discuss Michael's 'Peace Variations for solo violin', performed by Tim Fain. Our conversation expanded to include several other works from this prolific and extraordinary composer. I am still waiting for the chance to see Frankenstein  accompanied by Mi...

  • Michael Shapiro discusses 'Frankenstein' score with 91.5WBJC
    Posted At: November 9, 2020

    Film critics like Leonard Maltin have agreed that the 1931 movie, "Frankenstein" has sorely lacked a music score.  Then in 2001, composer and conductor Michael Shapiro was commissioned to write the first full music score for the 1931 horror classic directed by James Whale and starring Boris Karloff.  Over the years, Shapiro has arranged the score for "Frankenstein" in three versions to be perfo...

  • Michael Shapiro talks about his score to the film 'Frankenstein' with VPM Music
    Posted At: November 4, 2020

    James Whale's 1931 film classic "Frankenstein" was released without a musical score.  Many critics over the years have remarked that it has been badly in need of music.  Composer Michael Shapiro was commissioned in 2002 by the Boris Koutzen Foundation to write his 70-minute film score. Shapiro: Overture to Frankenstein. Since its premiere, there have been more than 50 performances world...

  • 'Frankenstein' has been monstrously fun for Michael Shapiro / Hollywood Soapbox
    Posted At: November 3, 2020

    It has been 18 years since composer Michael Shapiro's score for the original 1931 movie Frankenstein first premiered, and almost two decades later, it still entrances audiences and has morphed into several different versions. He has found success with a chamber version of the score, plus one for a full orchestra. Then there's an edition for a wind ensemble, and he is putting the finishing touches on an o...

  • Michael Shapiro discusses; 'Frankenstein: The Movie Score' with PA's WVIA Public Media - Art Scene
    Posted At: October 31, 2020

    Composer & Conductor Michael Shapiro speaking about "Frankenstein: The Movie Score", a through-composed symphonic score to accompany, in live performance, screenings of the 1931 film "Frankenstein" directed by James Whale & featuring Boris Karloff. The Overture has recently been released on a recording with Shapiro's Second Symphony performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under...

  • Just in time for Halloween, Michael Shapiro talks with FM91WGTE about his movie score for 'Frankenstein'
    Posted At: October 31, 2020

    Just in time for Halloween, composer/conductor Michael Shapiro joins FM91WGTE; Toldeo OH Haley Taylor to talk about his movie score for the classic film Frankenstein (1931) directed by James Whale and starring Colin Clive and Boris Karloff. Shapiro's music (written in 2001) brings the classic monster movie into even sharper focus – and makes up for the fact that the original was actually produc...

  • Michael Shapiro discusses 'Frankenstein' score with the Rio Grande Guardian
    Posted At: October 31, 2020

    James Whale's film classic from 1931, Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff, was released without a musical score. This was the case for many films in the early days of the "talkies." However, in the case of Frankenstein, composer Michael Shapiro wrote a 70-minute score to be played simultaneously with a screening of the movie. Shapiro was commissioned to do so in 2002 by the Boris Koutzen Foundation. It ...

  • 'IT'S ALIVE!' Michael Shapiro breathes new life into a horror classic / 98.7WFMT
    Posted At: October 31, 2020

    98.7WFMT: Chicago 'Soundtrack' celebrates Halloween with a plastic-pumpkin-full playlist of scary favorites: classic, contemporary, and a little bit of both, including; Michael Shapiro's Frankenstein: The Movie Score was created to be performed simultaneously with the classic 1931 talkie starring Colin Clive and Boris Karloff and directed by James Whale.  Although the original movie has ...

  • Michael Shapiro's 'Frankenstein' overture featured on 105.9WQXR - Score at 4
    Posted At: October 30, 2020

    James Whale's film classic Frankenstein (1931), starring Boris Karloff, was released without a musical score, as were many films in those early days of the talkie.  A number of critics, including Leonard Maltin, have remarked that Frankenstein is badly in need of music.  Michael Shapiro's 70-minute score is written to be played simultaneously with the screening of the film.  For mo...

  • For Halloween - SiriusXM: Symphony Hall features; 'Scary Soundtracks with Michael Shapiro'
    Posted At: October 27, 2020

    This Friday - October 30 at 9 pm ET, SiriusXM's Symphony Hall Channel will feature; 'Scary Soundtracks with Michael Shapiro, a 1hr special highlighting the Overture to the the 1931 film 'Frankenstein.' With an incredible legacy, and selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, ...

  • Harmonious World podcasts with Frankenstein composer Michael Shapiro
    Posted At: October 20, 2020

    James Whale's film classic Frankenstein (1931), starring Boris Karloff, was released without a musical score, as were many films in those early days of the talkie.  A number of critics, including Leonard Maltin, have remarked that Frankenstein is badly in need of music.  Michael Shapiro's 70-minute score is written to be played simultaneously with the screening of the film.&nb...

  • Michael Shapiro joins FM91: Toledo to talk about his John Milton-inspired piano concerto - Archangel
    Posted At: July 1, 2020

    Composer, pianist, and conductor Michael Shapiro joins us to talk about the music on his latest disc, including his John Milton-inspired piano concerto entitled Archangel. In this action-packed work, Shapiro lays out the epic Biblical battle between good and evil as a metaphor for the challenges we all face in our daily lives (which includes the current coronavirus pandemic – something Michael rece...

  • But why a symphony? / Medium
    Posted At: June 24, 2020

    By Michael Shapiro My Second Symphony is a work of absolute music. It has no subtext; it tells no "story"; it just is. I had always wished to write a four-movement symphony, containing a serious first movement, a scherzo, a lyrical slow movement, and a set of variations concluding in transcendence.' Working in 2010 with Marin Alsop and the virtuosic Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music (for the Ca...

  • Michael Shapiro talks ARCHANGEL with the Rio Grande Guardian
    Posted At: May 26, 2020

    New York-based composer, conductor and author Michael Shapiro recently recovered from COVID-19. While in hospital in New York he had help from the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland, thanks to a local nun. "She got on the phone with the priests and the nuns in Dublin… and they prayed Mass for me. Can you imagine, a Jewish boy from Brooklyn?" Shapiro said this is representative of a connection...

  • Michael Shapiro discusses 'Archangel' with Spokane Public Radio
    Posted At: May 20, 2020

    On ‘Archangel', Michael Shapiro breathes new life into the famous Toccata from the Fifth Organ Symphony by Victorian French composer Charles-Marie Widor with this arrangement for full orchestra named Widorama! played by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by the composer. Shapiro's arrangement of the famous Toccata, frequently used by organists for weddings and church services, br...

  • Michael Shapiro featured on SiriusXM - Living American
    Posted At: April 21, 2020

    Michael Shapiro's works have been performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe-with broadcasts of premieres on National Public Radio, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Israel Broadcasting Authority, Sender Freies Berlin, WQXR, and WCBS-TV. His music, which spans across all media, has been characterized in a New York Times review as "possessing a rare melodic gift." His oeuvre i...

  • Michael Shapiro's 'ARCHANGEL CONCERTO' recreates the epic battle between good and evil / Medium
    Posted At: April 13, 2020

    I am not sure why I picked up "Paradise Lost" by John Milton again. I remembered trying to read the book as part of the Core Curriculum for Columbia College freshmen in 1969 and not understanding very much about it, the language incomprehensible to my immature mind. But I am quite clearly obsessed with the conflict between good and evil, about the never ending fight against tyranny, it is my creative...

  • Mahler Lives! by Michael Shapiro
    Posted At: March 23, 2020

    by Michael Shapiro In 1911, my conducting teacher and beloved friend Carl Bamberger, then nine years old, returned home from a day at his Viennese grade school to find his mother sitting at the kitchen table staring into space, a newspaper spread out before her. The headline stabbed young Carl straight into his heart: "Mahler is dead!" To music loving Viennese one hundred nine years ago, the cond...

  • Michael Shapiro's 'Archangel Concerto' is the KDFC: Download of the Week'
    Posted At: March 18, 2020

    Born in Brooklyn in 1951, Michael Shapiro has been active as a composer almost since then. On ARCHANGEL, Shapiro's Archangel Concerto for Piano and Orchestra' features pianist Steven Beck (New York Philharmonic, Brooklyn Knights). The Concerto is probably the most programmatic piece of music Michael Shapiro has ever written.  Archangel is in two books or movements. Book One depicts the war b...

  • 'Archangel Concerto' is the most programmatic piece of music Michael Shapiro has ever written, and it's the KUSC: Download of the Week'
    Posted At: March 18, 2020

    Born in Brooklyn in 1951, Michael Shapiro has been active as a composer almost since then. On ARCHANGEL, Shapiro's Archangel Concerto for Piano and Orchestra' features pianist Steven Beck (New York Philharmonic, Brooklyn Knights). The Concerto is probably the most programmatic piece of music Michael Shapiro has ever written.  Archangel is in two books or movements. Book One depicts the war b...

  • TWELVE TONES AND OPPRESSION by Michael Shapiro
    Posted At: March 16, 2020

    TWELVE TONES AND OPPRESSION by Michael Shapiro I just read about composer and pianist Charles Wuorinen's passing. I was an undergrad at Columbia from 1969–1973 when Wuorinen taught undergrads. I saw him in the hallways at Dodge in those days. Wuorinen never smiled and was always taciturn. He made it clear he knew better. I stayed away and spent happier times with Joel Newman, Denis ...
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