F. W. Murnau’s Faust (1926) is one of the great visual epics of the silent era — a haunting 
adaptation of the legendary scholar who bargains with Mephistopheles for knowledge, youth, 
and power. With its sweeping expressionist imagery, towering shadows, and moments of aching 
tenderness, the film moves from cosmic spectacle to intimate tragedy with astonishing grace. 
Live piano accompaniment restores its original magic, giving voice to its vast drama and quiet 
human longing alike, and drawing audiences into a fully immersive cinematic experience.

William Zeitler has been a musician since age five and is a graduate of the California 
Institute of the Arts. He has performed nationally and internationally, including at the Kennedy 
Center and with the Blue Man Group, and has composed and produced eight albums of original music. 
WIlliam also writes film scores for documentaries, most recently for the European Space Agency.
He is also known for his live, fully improvised accompaniment of silent films, performing on piano 
and theater pipe organ.