Invincible Czars - Silent Films Live Soundtracks

7:00 PM - The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920 Robert Wiene)

9:00 PM - Phantom of the Opera (1925, dir. Rupert Julian)

The iconic moment when Mary Philbin removed Lon Chaney's mask in The Phantom of the Opera (1925, dir. Rupert Julian) is one of cinema’s most enduring images. Now, The Invincible Czars will bring their signature blend of eclectic instrumentation, adventurous arrangements and sense of emotional depth to this 100-year-old classic with a new soundtrack, performing it live with the film in art house cinemas across the US and Canada in 2025.

The tour will celebrate the 100th anniversary of this early American horror film. The band has been captivating both music and film enthusiasts across North America since 2015 when their soundtrack for Nosferatu earned them accolades in the art house community and made them staple of the silent film circuit.

The Czars’ Phantom of the Opera soundtrack is the culmination of nearly a year of meticulous composition, recording, and collaboration. The group drew inspiration from the film’s gothic visuals and haunting narrative to craft a score using their primary instruments: piano, violin, electric guitar/bass, organ, flute, drums and bass clarinet. They create a live experience so immersive that it’s easy to forget the music is being played live at times!

Honoring the Film’s Legacy and Legendary Stars

Based on an earlier book that struggled with sales, the release of the film gave international celebrity to the story and the character of the Phantom (and eventually to the longest running show in Broadway history.)

The film owes much of that legacy to the unforgettable performances of its stars. Lon Chaney, known as "The Man of a Thousand Faces," delivered a career-defining portrayal of the Phantom, captivating audiences with his masterful makeup and deeply emotional performance as a troubled musical genius dismissed by society.

Co-star Mary Philbin brought grace and poignancy to the role of Christine Daaé, the opera singer who becomes the object of the Phantom's obsession. The Invincible Czars’ composition choices and dynamics often hinge on Philbin’s masterful portrayal of Christine's emotions, especially her facial expressions. Philbin was every bit Chaney’s equal when it came to acting and together, their on-screen chemistry and nuanced performances helped solidify the film’s status as a landmark in cinematic history. The Invincible Czars' score pays homage to their artistry, underscoring the depth and drama of both characters.

Recordings

The Invincible Czars partnered with renowned engineer Jason Schimmel (Secret Chiefs 3, Estradasphere) to capture the soundtrack’s vivid textures and dynamics. The recording showcases the group’s distinctive instrumentation, classical flourishes, dynamics and breadth of emotional expression. The complete recording will be available on all streaming services.

The Czars have also recorded a rockin’ rendition of the music from the masquerade ball scene entitled “The Mad Merry Bal Masque” available digitally and as a 7” vinyl single. The track and its B-side were recorded by one of Austin’s most beloved indie-rock producers, Chico Jones.

The Invincible Czars bring their nightmarish-ly fun soundtrack to the world’s first feature-length horror film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920 Robert Wiene) with an immersive combined live soundtrack experience that transports audiences back 100+ years via an age-old tale accompanied by a chilling, tastefully-modern score featuring an impressive blend of traditional acoustic and present-day electric instruments. The band will also perform their lauded soundtrack for Nosferatuon several dates.

The Invincible Czars released a DVD in 2023 and downloadable video with their soundtrack.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari inspired modern day filmmaker Tim Burton and musicians like David Bowie with its strikingly modern visuals. Its craggy edges, disjointed backgrounds and heavy make-up have earned this dark fairy tale a reputation as the quintessential German Expressionist film. Its twist ending is also considered the first in cinematic history (and something Rod Sterling’s The Twlight Zone capitalized upon in the 1960s.)

The live accompaniment experience marries the old-world charm of silent film with a contemporary electricity engaging multi-generational audiences. “We strive to create soundtracks that give modern -day audiences a context to appreciate these 100-year-old movies,” said Josh Robins, Invincible Czars founder and bandleader. The group draws upon influences from more modern film composers including. Bear McCreary, Angelo Badalmenti, David Buckley, Bernard Herrmann and Danny Elfman
The band also hopes their show will increase awareness about independent cinemas and adventurous movie theaters that are becoming increasingly rare in the post-Covid era.

THE EXPERIENCE:

Fans, theaters, and media have consistently praised The Invincible Czars’ carefully crafted soundtracks for enhancing movie-goers’ experience. The band has performed for over a decade at hundreds of theatres and art houses across the US and Canada delighting audiences with an array of sonic twists and turns. The varied compositions and instrumentation adapt individually to each film the Czars score, capturing each thrilling moment and keeping audiences engaged scene by scene.

Their score is performed by a five-member touring ensemble using violin, flute, bass clarinet, oboe, electric guitar, bass guitar, piano, organ, glockenspiel, music box, drums, percussion, samples, and loops. From delicate passages of longing and love to menacing motifs of dissonant horror and pain, each instrument plays a critical role in establishing character themes and creating an aural dreamscape for the film.

The Invincible Czars encourage fans and attendees to dress for the Halloween season.

ABOUT THE BAND

The Invincible Czars began making adventurous rock music in Austin clubs 2003 but they quickly branched into the arts world with their wide scope of styles, cinematic flare, mix of modern and classical instruments and their complicated relationship with heavy metal.

Though they continue to take on a variety of projects, including their Austin-tenacious re-imagining of Tchaikovsky‘s Nutcracker Suite, The Invincible Czars are probably best known for their silent film soundtracks which they perform live at cinemas, colleges and performing arts spaces all over the US and Canada.

They began accompanying silent films at the original Alamo Drafthouse in Austin in 2006 with Aelita, Queen of Mars (1922.) They continued adding titles to their catalog year after year and expanding their performance region slowly until they were touring the entire US by 2016. Many art house cinemas and film festivals call The Invincible Czars one of the best in the nation for silent film accompaniment. “Thank you for making this movie actually scary,” is heard at least once at every show.

The band operates as a collective with a few core members and a rotating cast of additional members on any given project or tour. They sound different from season to season and year to year. The touring ensemble for 2025 is

Phil Davidson– violin, keyboards, percussion

Wes Haynes – piano, keyboards, bass

Josh Robins– guitar, bass, samples, percussion

Chuck Fischer – drums, percussion, keyboards

Lauryn Gould – winds, keys

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