The Seventh Art: Through the Composer’s Lens

Behind the Music

In a world where film and music are inseparably linked, Music@Menlo will focus its lens on the relationship between composers and “the seventh art.” Music has always played a paramount role in the movie theater, supporting the rich emotional connection between the audience and the silver screen, and many composers have been deeply influenced by cinema’s traditions, tropes, and heritage. This Focus Residency will explore the why and how behind several such composers’ works as our camera moves through all the angles: music written for cinema, because of it, mimicking it, and even establishing the cinematic sound. Join us for a fascinating look into the life and works of several composers, featuring Dmitry Shostakovich and his relationship to Soviet cinema; the chamber music of Nino Rota, the man behind The Godfather; Patrick Castillo, a name so dear to Music@Menlo, and his fascination with Ingmar Bergman; the vibrant world of Libby Larsen and her dive into the smoky atmosphere of film noir; and, of course, the “Father of Soundtrack,“ the “Haydn of Film Music“ himself: Erich Wolfgang Korngold.
—Dmitri Atapine, curator