About

Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra

“Let the music do the talking.”

The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra is a five piece chamber ensemble that revives the repertoire of silent film orchestras. Using historic libraries of “photoplay music,” and selecting and fitting a piece of music for each scene in the film, Mont Alto compiles vibrant and emotional scores using the original techniques of silent film orchestras.

“The results are often breathtakingly beautiful and always in the strict service of the film on the screen.” (Dave Kehr, The New York Times.) 

Since 1994, Mont Alto has compiled and performed over 150 silent film scores, performing at venues from the Telluride Film Festival to the Turner Classic Movies Festival. and from New York City to San Francisco. 

Shows

Upcoming live shows! When available, tickets can be purchased through the links. 

Previous events

Date Event Location
(PDT, UTC-07) (PDT, UTC-07) The Crowd Castro Theater, San Francisco, CA Castro Theater, San Francisco, CA
(PDT, UTC-07) (PDT, UTC-07) Bed and Sofa Castro Theater, San Francisco, CA Castro Theater, San Francisco, CA
(PDT, UTC-07) (PDT, UTC-07) The Caveman (1926) Castro Theater, San Francisco, CA Castro Theater, San Francisco, CA
(PDT, UTC-07) (PDT, UTC-07) Miss Lulu Bett Castro Theater, San Francisco, CA Castro Theater, San Francisco, CA
(PDT, UTC-07) (PDT, UTC-07) Lady Windermere's Fan Grauman’s Egyptian Theater, Los Angeles Grauman’s Egyptian Theater, Los Angeles
The Thief of Bagdad Sie Film Center, Denver Sie Film Center, Denver
Buster Keaton's "The General" Longmont Museum, Longmont, Colorado Longmont Museum, Longmont, Colorado
Buster Keaton”s "The General" Boulder International Film Series, Boulder, Colorado Boulder International Film Series, Boulder, Colorado
Buster Keaton's "Go West" Northglenn Arts , Northglenn Northglenn Arts , Northglenn
Clara Bow in "It" (1926) San Francisco Silent FIlm Festival, San Francisco, California San Francisco Silent FIlm Festival, San Francisco, California

Latest Track

Here are some tracks from our recent project The Affairs of Anatol, which will be released by Artcraft Pictures this year.. 

Latest News

Mont Alto is currently creating, performing, and recording no fewer than four new film scores! Several will be presented at the San Francisco Silent FIlm Festival on May 6-10.