Jeff Beal: Metropolis Score Teaser
ABOUT METROPOLIS:
Metropolis is a 1927 German expressionist science-fiction silent film directed by Fritz Lang and written by Thea von Harbou in collaboration with Lang. Metropolis is regarded as a pioneering
science-fiction film, being among the first feature-length ones of that genre. Set in a futuristic
urban dystopia, it follows Freder, the wealthy son of the city master, and Maria, a workers'
advocate, as they attempt to bridge the class divide. The film's art direction draws influence
from opera, Bauhaus, Cubist, and Futurist design, along with touches of the Gothic in the scenes
in the catacombs, the cathedral and Rotwang's house. Metropolis is now widely regarded as one
of the greatest and most influential films ever made.
ARTIST STATEMENT: WHY METROPOLIS/MUSICAL SETTING
Metropolis, addresses timeless themes still relevant today. It portrays wealth inequality through a striking visual metaphor: a soaring city of privilege above, and an underground of workers
below. This disparity, magnified by the industrial revolution, resonates with our current wealth
and educational divide.
The film explores identity through its science-fiction robot, mirroring our AI and social media era
where technology can manipulate truth and identity, leading to personal crises.
Metropolis also tackles the moral crisis of mankind vs. machine. As our smart devices become
more autonomous and powerful, we face anxiety and confusion. Can these tools designed to
improve our lives also be our undoing?The film's answer, "The Mediator Between the Head and
the Hands Must Be the Heart," suggests that bridging these chasms requires connecting with
our fundamental humanity.
Jeff Beal created electronic sound design at few key points - used in conjunction with the live
performed score. These elements can give a 21st century audience an even more immersive
cinematic experience, and highlight the film's groundbreaking contribution to the language of
science fiction film making.
Metropolis is a grand symphonic tone poem. The length and breadth of the film beg for the
drama and structure of an operatically scaled Mahler-esque symphony, but with a
contemporary sense of musical cinematic storytelling which can speak to a modern audience.
ABOUT JEFF BEAL:
Jeff Beal is a five time Emmy award winning composer, his film scores have received critical
acclaim, while he remains a respected composer in the concert, theater and dance worlds. Beal’s
evocative score and theme for the Netflix drama House of Cards received five Emmy Award
nominations, and has twice won for outstanding score, bringing Beal’s Emmy tally to nineteen
nominations and five statues.
Other lauded series include HBO’s Carnivale and Rome. Film scores feature the documentaries
Blackfish and Queen of Versailles and dramas Pollock and Appaloosa. Beal’s orchestral works
have been performed by the St. Louis, Rochester, Pacific, Munich, and Detroit symphony
orchestras. Commissions include works for the St Loius Symphony, LA Master Chorale, Brooklyn
Youth Chorus, Rochester Philharmonic, Smuin Ballet and Grammy winners Jason Vieaux & Hila
Plitmann.
As a conductor Beal has led full evenings of his works with the National Symphony, Boston Pops
Esplanade, and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. He gave his Carnegie Hall debut conducting his
score to “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” in June of 2024.
METROPOLIS, 1927, Fritz Lang
Restoration 2010
Courtesy of Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung / ©️ Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung