SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College will host renowned guitarist Marc Ribot for a live musical accompaniment to Charlie Chaplin’s 1921 silent film “The Kid” on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 8 p.m.
Ribot will also perform a brief solo set prior to the screening.
Ribot’s solo guitar score, which has been described as both delicate and haunting, offers a contemporary interpretation of Chaplin’s classic film. Originally commissioned by the New York Guitar Festival, Ribot’s score premiered in 2010 at Merkin Hall.
The guitarist has stated that he chose not to reference Chaplin’s original score, preferring instead to present a modern reading of the film’s themes, which he believes resonate with today’s social and economic issues.
“The Kid”, Chaplin’s first full-length feature, remains a landmark in silent cinema. The film follows Chaplin’s iconic Tramp character as he raises an orphaned boy, played by Jackie Coogan, blending slapstick humor with emotional depth. The film’s themes of empathy and inequality continue to hold relevance today.
Marc Ribot, who has released over 20 albums in his 30-year career, is known for his wide-ranging musical explorations. He has collaborated with artists such as Tom Waits, Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, and Neko Case, and has worked with Grammy-winning producer T Bone Burnett and composer John Zorn. His solo release, “Silent Movies,” was widely praised and landed on several “best of” lists.
The event is presented with the support of Jimmy Zankel ’92 and the Zankel Music Fund.
Tickets are $20 for the general public and $5 for members of the Skidmore College community. They can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 518-580-5321 from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
For more information, contact Zankel Music Center Director Zhenelle LeBel at [email protected].
