This event is part of a double-bill, alongside Phantom of the Paradise, which has been curated by Craig Ian Mann. Tickets sold separately.
Adapted from the classic Gothic novel by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera is one of the defining works of silent melodrama and an early horror film. It stars Lon Chaney – the famed “Man of a Thousand Faces” – as the eponymous Phantom, who stalks the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera House. Deeply in love with a young opera singer, his infatuation leads him to kidnap her and take her to his lair, where she will learn his true identity and see his true face…
Live Score: This screening features a live score by Paul Robinson’s HarmonieBand.
Event introduction: This event will be introduced by Craig Ian Mann.
HarmonieBand
HarmonieBand is a three piece ensemble specialising in the presentation of specially composed scores by Paul Robinson to silent films. Originally formed in 1985 , HarmonieBand have performed at all the major art centres, cinemas and film festivals in the UK and Europe. These include trips to Pordenone, Berlin, Dresden, three tours of Holland, the Cambridge Film Festival, annual appearances at the Barbican and numerous regional film theatres. In 2007 HarmonieBand was invited to join the Hilliard Ensemble with a new score by Paul Robinson for Dreyer's "Jeanne D'Arc" The score was presented in the Wroclaw Opera House and recorded for Polish TV. Most recently they have appeared in the Chichester Film Festival (Asquith’s ‘Underground’) The Barbican Centre (Cocteau ‘Le Sang D’un Poete’) and HOME in Manchester (Keaton’s ‘The General)
The ensemble is dedicated to live performances of composed scores for silent movies and with judicious employment of backing tracks, makes an orchestral sound as a backdrop to the three live players on saxophones, Cello and accordion.
Composing for ‘The Phantom’
Since the entire film is set in an Opera House it was impossible to ignore operatic references. The music that occurs most frequently is from Charles Gounod’s ‘Faust’ but there are many more references to operas by other composers in a more disguised manner.
Clips from Phantom of the Opera
Too Much: Melodrama on Film
Running from October - December 2025, Too Much: Melodrama on Film is a UK wide programme supported by BFI and BFI FAN which celebrates the visual excess and dramatic potency of a form of cinema which champions emotional intensity over propriety and ‘good taste’. This autumn, we're presenting live events and classic titles, to make you swoon, weep and make a scene!
Explore Too Much: Melodrama on Film
Director Rupert Julian
Year 1925
Duration
1h 43m
Language Silent
Cast Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry