In the wake of a U.S. election that left half the population bracing for a dystopian future, it seems a timely moment to present Fritz Lang’s 1927 silent classic, Metropolis. Considered the “father” of science fiction cinema, the film was meticulously restored in 2010.

But it’s the extra element of a live score composed and presented by the Alloy Orchestra that makes this screening an exceptional event. This unusual three man musical ensemble writes and performs live accompaniment to classic silent films using a combination of found percussion and state-of-the-art electronics to generate an amazingly varied array of musical styles. 

Most of us with miss tonight’s screening at the Rialto Center for the Arts. The good news is we can all get a small sense of the impact this combination of art forms with these two short clips. I’m hoping not to miss this opportunity the next time around.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzknO-ggUWY