Fritz Lang: Metropolis

METROPOLIS ENSEMBLE AT NATIONAL SAWDUST

Metropolis Ensemble debuts at National Sawdust in a special screening of the iconic silent film Metropolis set to original music by Ricardo Romaneiro

Tuesday, March 10, 2020
National Sawdust / 80 N 6th St / Brooklyn, NY
7:00pm doors / 8:00pm show
Tickets: $25 adv / 30 door + applicable fees

on the program

Ricardo Romaneiro: Fritz Lang Metropolis*

*World Premiere Metropolis Ensemble Commission

Metropolis is the silent 1927 German expressionist science-fiction film directed by Fritz Lang

Set in a futuristic urban dystopia (inspired by Lang’s first visit to New York in 1924), wealthy industrialists and business magnates and their top employees reign from high-rise towers, while underground-dwelling workers toil to operate the great machines that power the city.

The film is now viewed as an accusative warning about the “profound impact technological progress has…as a subjugating and corrupting” influence over human society. (Lane Roth, Film Quarterly)

On March 10, this film screening of Metropolis will feature a newly created live soundtrack composed by electronic artist/composer Ricardo Romaneiro and performed by the Grammy-Nominated chamber orchestra, Metropolis Ensemble, complete with an embedded electro-acoustic jazz trio led by saxophone prodigy Immanuel Wilkins, toy and electro-percussionist Keita Ogawa, reed installations by Narek Arutyunian, and audio spatialization by Leo Leite.

Romaneiro will take full advantage of the extraordinary breakthroughs in acoustical science as realized by Meyer Sound’s Constellation® acoustic system and its immersive component Spacemap®, a newly installed system at National Sawdust (2019).

This dynamic new auditory playground will allow Romaneiro to craft a sonic experience that places the listener and viewer directly within the myriad of illusory sets Metropolis features, ranging from a huge gothic cathedral to futuristic cityscapes, mirroring in sound the stunning and pioneering visual innovations Lang created.

World Premiere & Metropolis Ensemble Commission

Artist Roster:

Jacqueline Kerrod, electric harp
Keita Ogawa, toy percussion
Narek Arutyunian, clarinets
Lauren Cauley, violin
Kallie Ciechomski, viola
Joshua Halpern, cello
Topu Lyo, cello
Immanuel Wilkins, saxophones
JK Kim, drum synth
Chris Fishman, synthesizers
Ricardo Romaneiro, composer/electronic artist
Leo Leite, sound engineer
Andrew Cyr, conductor

Metropolis Trailer (NS - WITH TEXT) 3 from Metropolis Ensemble on Vimeo.

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Featured

RICARDO ROMANEIRO / COMPOSER

Ricardo Romaneiro is a Brazilian-American contemporary composer and electronic artist who works with both classical and electronic musicians in various mediums such as orchestras, dance, ballet, films, chamber ensembles, and audiovisual installations… READ MORE

NAREK ARUTYUNIAN / CLARINETS

Clarinetist Narek Arutyunian is an artist who “reaches passionate depths with seemingly effortless technical prowess and beguiling sensitivity” (The Washington Post). As soloist with orchestra, his performances include the Copland Clarinet Concerto with… READ MORE

LAUREN CAULEY / VIOLIN

A performer of “gripping brilliance” and “prodigious energy and skill” (Vancouver Classical Music), hailed as “simply amazing” and “spellbinding.” (Rochester Fringe Festival), New York-based violinist Lauren Cauley propels the avant-garde forward with genre-breaking… READ MORE

KALLIE CIECHOMSKI / VIOLA

Kallie Ciechomski is a member of Hotel Elefant, and performs regularly with International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Pittsburgh Symphony, New York City Ballet, New Jersey Symphony, New York City Opera, Riverside Symphony, Talea Ensemble; and at Lion King and Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway… READ MORE

CHRIS FISHMAN / SYNTHESIZER

Chris Fishman is a pianist, composer, and sound designer from Los Angeles. His innovative style in both performance and composition have consistently been praised by the likes of the Grammy foundation and Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has performed and recorded… READ MORE

JOSHUA HALPERN / CELLO

Joshua Halpern, cello, is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where his teachers included Carter Brey, Peter Wiley, and Desmond Hoebig… READ MORE

JACQUELINE KERROD / ELECTRIC HARP

Described as 'exceptionally virtuosic and sensitive', harpist Jacqueline Kerrod is perfectly at home across multiple genres. She has performed in some of the major venues in the United States and Europe including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall… READ MORE

JONGKUK KIM / DRUM SYNTH

Jongkuk Kim is New York-based drummer, and composer from Incheon, South Korea. Musically gifted from an early age, Jongkuk studied and performed with many of South Korea’s finest musicians including Sung Tae Eun, Soo Ho Kang, and Dohun Lee. He graduated… READ MORE

LEO LEITE / SOUND

Leo Leite, Brazilian-born sound engineer and music producer, grew up in São Paulo. Passionated for music at early age, Leo was motivated by strong influences from his family with gatherings to play instruments. At the age of 11 he was already blowing up speakers while trying to figure out… READ MORE

TOPU LYO / CELLO

Topu Lyo is a Korean American multi faceted composer, producer, and cellist. He uses cello and electronics as his primary tool to compose and perform. He has been a co-leader of two piece band Live Footage for over 12 years touring throughout Europe, Asia, and… READ MORE

KEITA OGAWA / TOY AND ELECTRO-PERCUSSION

Hailing originally from Sasebo city, Nagasaki, Japan, Keita Ogawa is Grammy Award winner (as Snarky puppy member) and one of the most versatile and sought-after percussionist and drummer in New York City. He started his music career on drum set at the age of 15… READ MORE

IMMANUEL WILKINS / SAXOPHONE

Immanuel Wilkins is an American Saxophonist, Composer, Arranger, and Band Leader. While growing up in the Philadelphia area, he played in his church and programs dedicated to teaching jazz music such as the Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts. Immanuel… READ MORE