Make this a Spooky, Musical HALLOWEEN TO REMEMBER on Saturday, October 28 at 7:30 PM in Lincoln Hall, as composer and acclaimed stride pianist TOM ROBERTS performs his original score for a screening of the first Horror Silent Film, NOSFERATU, which occupies an honored spot among the 100 best movies of all time. He composed this music for the 100th anniversary of NOSERATU, as commissioned by the Pittsburgh Silent Film Society.
In keeping with the world premiere of the iconic film in Germany in March of 1922 that featured a costume party, the evening will bring back ARCA’s popular Halloween costume competition. Become part of the festivities by dressing in costume – perhaps as Dracula, a Vampire, a Spooky Character – or anything you fancy – OR – since it’s trick or treat, present a “treat or talent” of your own. Halloween candy WILL be given out.
Tickets: Adults $20, Students $5. Buy online at alleghenyriverstone.org or call 724-659-3153 to reserve and pay with cash or check at the door. Wine, beer and water offered for sale.
“NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR” is the earliest adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The 1922 silent German Expressionist horror film was directed by F. W. Murnau starring Max Schreck as Count Orlok, a vampire who preys on the wife of his estate agent and brings the plague to their town. The film continues to disturb and inspire modern audiences with its beautiful cinematography coupled with the nightmareish images of Count Orlock.
Nosferatu is set in 1838, when a German real-estate agent named Huttert travels to Transylvania to do a deal for the mysterious Orlock. For music in the German scenes, Roberts drew upon the bright, melodic style of 19th-century composer Robert Schumann. Scenes in Transylvania were scored to music inspired by Romanian traditions.
“The beautiful thing about ‘Nosferatu’ is … it’s not all terrifying,” said Roberts. “It’s a beautiful film. It is such a masterpiece and there are lots of emotional levels within it. There are moments of hope, moments of mystery, moments of tragedy, moments of loss, and what I’ve tried to do with this score is capture each one of those as best as I can.”
Roberts has arranged and performed music for the soundtrack of the Martin Scorcese film The Aviator and several titles for the film DeLovely; for the syndicated PRI show Riverwalk Jazz, Live from the Landing with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band; and scores for Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra of the music of Louis Armstrong.
He has performed on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Statler Brothers Show and A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. He was featured at the International Stride Piano Summit in Zurich, Switzerland, 2001 and 2009 and performed with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks in New York City (recent Grammy winners for the soundtrack to Boardwalk Empire) and was Leon Redbone’s pianist and musical director for six years.
Tom has composed new musical scores for Charlie Chaplin films including One A.M., The Rink and Silent Picture Show. In past seasons in Lincoln Hall, he performed Chaplin’s The Rink, The Pawn Shop and The Kid Auto Race for a Halloween costume event and has led his Allegheny City Ragtime Orchestra.
Tom has recorded over 40 albums and performed throughout the United States and Europe. Besides his pianistic artistry, Tom is a versatile music historian with special focus on the Early Jazz era. He has contributed articles for magazines such as Piano Today and is a frequent guest at National Public Radio.
A few of last years costume participants who showed up for some evening fun.
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