Composer Michael Shapiro Gives “Frankenstein” New Life
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 performed live with the movie.
Michael Shapiro took time to give me the history of his frightening yet multifaceted musical creation.