Graeme Stephen’s Metropolis ft. The Fiona Winning Quartet Opens Soundhouse Winter Festival 2025, Redefining Cinema and Music in Edinburgh, Scotland: Check It Out Now

Published on December 2, 2025

The Soundhouse Winter Festival 2025 in Edinburgh kicked off in an extraordinary fashion with Graeme Stephen’s innovative performance of Metropolis. This monumental event, held at the renowned Traverse Theatre, was a fusion of visual storytelling and live music that redefined the cinematic experience. Stephen’s unique score, performed live by The Fiona Winning Quartet alongside his own composition on electric guitar, offered a new lens through which to experience Fritz Lang’s 1927 silent classic, Metropolis. This performance not only celebrated the history of cinema but also highlighted the thriving arts scene in Edinburgh, attracting visitors from all corners of the world.

Metropolis Revisited: A Fresh Soundscape for an Iconic Film

Metropolis, one of the most influential films in cinematic history, has always been defined by its grand visual style and operatic score. Originally paired with a Wagnerian composition by Gottfried Huppertz, the film’s dramatic themes of class disparity, industrialization, and futuristic dystopia were brought to life through a thunderous score. However, Graeme Stephen’s reinterpretation with a much more intimate, modern musical arrangement brought a fresh, organic dimension to the experience.

Rather than overwhelming the viewer with a bombastic, operatic approach, Stephen’s composition introduced a more nuanced and intricate soundscape that perfectly complemented the visual drama of the film. His electric guitar, pulsating rhythm, and subtle layering of melodies allowed the music to interact with the film in a deeply symbiotic way, providing an additional emotional layer to the already intense visuals.

Stephen’s score serves as a reinterpretation of the binary world presented in Lang’s Metropolis—the towering, oppressive capitalist elite versus the downtrodden workers toiling beneath the city. While the film’s visuals portray this conflict through Art Deco skyscrapers and steam-powered machinery, Stephen’s score delicately balances these contrasts with an organic flow between the music’s various styles. From moments of jazz swing to modernist polyphonic textures, the score effortlessly mirrors the shifting emotions and tensions of the film, all while respecting the delicate balance between traditional orchestration and contemporary sounds.

A Celebration of Scottish Musicianship

The music’s performance was elevated by the remarkable talents of The Fiona Winning Quartet, who flawlessly blended their classical training with the contemporary vision of Stephen’s score. Alongside Tom Bancroft, who brought an innovative touch to the percussion, the ensemble formed a perfect harmony that bridged the gap between classical chamber music and modern jazz elements. Their meticulous timing and precise execution allowed for a seamless integration of sound and imagery that held the audience captivated for the entire two-hour runtime of the film.

The ensemble’s performance also demonstrated the immense musicianship required to sustain such an intricate score, particularly in the way they interpreted the emotional undercurrents of the film. The Fiona Winning String Quartet, in particular, excelled at playing Stephen’s cinematic themes, delivering every note with a precision and expressiveness that added immeasurable depth to Lang’s original work. This remarkable musicianship underscored how live music can transform a static film experience into something more immediate, engaging, and emotionally powerful.

Impact of the Soundhouse Winter Festival on Edinburgh’s Cultural Tourism

The Soundhouse Winter Festival has become an essential part of Edinburgh’s cultural calendar, showcasing the city’s ability to host cutting-edge performances that merge diverse art forms. As one of Scotland’s premier cultural hubs, Edinburgh has long been a beacon for art lovers, film enthusiasts, and music aficionados, and events like this contribute significantly to the city’s tourism industry.

By attracting a broad audience to experience this unique live score and cinema combination, the festival not only enhances the local cultural scene but also elevates Edinburgh’s status as an important cultural destination. Graeme Stephen’s Metropolis opened a dialogue between the 1927 film and the 2025 cultural moment, allowing both locals and tourists to engage in an ongoing conversation between the past and the present.

The presence of international artists and performers at events like these boosts tourism as attendees often travel to Edinburgh specifically for the festival, providing a boost to local hospitality and service industries. Hotels, restaurants, and cafes in the area benefit from the increased foot traffic, and local artists and musicians gain exposure to a wider audience. The economic impact of such cultural events is significant, contributing to the city’s growth as a leading destination for cultural tourism in Europe.

The Cinematic and Cultural Connections

Graeme Stephen’s composition also highlighted the film’s enduring relevance to contemporary issues, such as the struggle for equality, the consequences of industrialization, and the dehumanizing effects of capitalism. Lang’s Metropolis remains an iconic commentary on the class divide—a theme that is just as pertinent today as it was nearly a century ago. Stephen’s score emphasized the universal human struggle against systems of power, delivering a modern soundtrack to the film’s timeless imagery.

Visually, Metropolis still stands as one of cinema’s most striking achievements, thanks in part to Karl Freund’s cinematography and groundbreaking special effects. The towering cityscape, the robotic doppelgänger Maria, and the Schüfftan process remain awe-inspiring, and even after nearly 100 years, the film continues to capture the imagination of audiences worldwide. The stark contrasts between the gleaming upper levels of the city and the grim, oppressive underground serve as powerful metaphors for the polarized society depicted in the film, and these visual cues are made all the more impactful through Stephen’s soundtrack.

The Connection to Modern Cinema

Interestingly, the humor that some modern viewers find in the film’s more melodramatic moments (such as the absurd “Sodom and Gomorrah” sequence) only adds to the film’s enduring popularity. In this regard, Metropolis shares similarities with the work of Wes Anderson, who often juxtaposes absurdity with meticulously composed imagery. Stephen’s score leans into this connection, providing catchy modernist themes that add layers of warmth and humanity to Lang’s stark vision. Rather than merely amplifying the dystopian despair, the score softens the edges of the “Head, Hands, and Heart” philosophy, emphasizing the universal struggle for humanity in the face of overwhelming machinery.

This modern reinterpretation of the film is particularly significant as it highlights the evolving relationship between music, film, and technology. Just as silent films were once reinterpreted with live scores, today’s modern soundscapes add new dimensions to our understanding of classic cinema. The performance of Graeme Stephen’s Metropolis at the Soundhouse Winter Festival was a perfect example of how live music can serve as a cultural bridge, bringing together past and present in an electrifying and thought-provoking way.

Future Implications for Cultural Festivals in Edinburgh

The success of Graeme Stephen’s performance in Metropolis signals a bright future for cultural festivals in Edinburgh, reinforcing the city’s reputation as a center for artistic innovation. The Soundhouse Winter Festival has already established itself as a crucial event on the global arts scene, and with each new performance, it expands the city’s cultural reach. By attracting both domestic and international visitors, the festival fosters a sense of cultural exchange and cross-pollination, which only enhances Edinburgh’s standing as a cultural tourism destination.

Looking ahead, it is likely that other festivals in Edinburgh will take cues from the Soundhouse Winter Festival, seeking to explore new ways to combine live music, cinema, and theatre to create immersive experiences for audiences. The city’s deep connection to history and tradition, combined with its vibrant modern arts scene, makes it an ideal location for such innovative performances. For tourists seeking a culturally rich experience, the Soundhouse Winter Festival and similar events will continue to be key reasons to visit Edinburgh.

Conclusion

The Soundhouse Winter Festival 2025 opened with an unforgettable performance of Graeme Stephen’s Metropolis, featuring the Fiona Winning Quartet and a live score that reimagined Fritz Lang’s classic film. This groundbreaking performance not only showcased the talents of Scottish musicians but also reinforced Edinburgh’s position as a hub for cultural tourism in the UK. By blending cinematic history with live musical innovation, the festival brought new life to a classic work and offered an enriching experience for locals and tourists alike. As Edinburgh continues to evolve as a cultural destination, events like the Soundhouse Winter Festival will play a central role in attracting visitors from around the world, eager to experience the city’s unique artistic offerings.