‘Frankenstein’: London Premiere

The London Premiere of Michael Shapiro’s score for the 1931 classic ‘Frankenstein’ heads to the Cadogan Hall on Sunday 25 October.

My good friend, composer and conductor Michael Shapiro (above) will be directing the world class Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in two performances of his score to accompany the 1931 Frankenstein’ film. 

Having seen a similar production in Milan in October 2021, I know this will be a monstrous event!

Michael’s music adds dynamics and tension to the magnificent film that really stands the test of time. 

Author, critic and film historian Pamela Hutchinson will interview the composer and Sara Karloff, Boris Karloff’s only child, ahead of both screenings.

You can hear more in my Harmonious World conversations with Michael in December 2020, April 2021 and October 2024. I also spoke to Sara about her father, Frankenstein and life in general in May 2026.

Michael said: “The 1931 Frankenstein with Colin Clive and Boris Karloff is, for me, the best of all horror films. It’s listed by the American Film Institute as one of the top 100 films of all time, a serious movie with serious ideas. But it had no music. Imagine Psycho with no music! The film is humanity-driven, it’s all about relationships, and my score provides extra depth and tension to all the relationships - person-to-person and person-to-monster. I aim to scare the living daylights out of the audience at our London premiere at Cadogan Hall. I warned you!”

Buy your tickets to see ‘Frankenstein’ with the RPO and Michael Shapiro