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A masterwork of German expressionist cinema meets a live klezmer-infused score in a vibrant feast for the eyes and ears. Paul Wegener’s 1920 silent film Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam (The Golem: How He Came into the World) was so popular on its release that it sold out movie houses in both Germany and America for months, inspired Golem-themed operas and operettas, and was a critical influence on the 1931 cult film Frankenstein.

Drawn from folklore dating back to the early era of Judaism, Der Golem tells the story of a community of Jews in Medieval Prague who create a monster out of clay to protect themselves from the Holy Roman Emperor, only to see it violently turn on them. To harmonize with the atmosphere of the film, contemporary Israeli composer Betty Olivero takes traditional Yiddish folk-tunes and music from the Jewish liturgy and processes them using avant-garde compositional techniques. The resulting score for clarinet and strings is colorful, ominous, and exciting—and the experience of hearing live musicians perform it during the classic film promises to be unforgettable.

Experience a rare screening of the 1920 silent film with a haunting live score by the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. Conducted by Jonathan Yates, this fusion of cinema and live klezmer-inspired music brings a legendary tale to life for one unforgettable evening.

Presented with the Bennett Center for Judaic Studies