In this episode, I reflect on Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein through the intertwined worlds of art, music, history, and atmosphere. My son and I have long loved del Toro’s richly imaginative films, and seeing his At Home with Monsters exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Art gave us a deeper appreciation for the way he blends beauty, darkness, grief, and wonder. Watching Frankenstein, I was especially drawn to the ornate Rococo-style piano and the use of Bach’s Prelude and Fugue No. 17, both of which bring refinement, order, and humanity into the film’s Gothic world. From Georgian salons to Victorian parlors, the piano has long represented culture, creativity, and emotional expression. This episode explores how one beautiful instrument can connect a cinematic story of creation and identity to centuries of musical history—and remind us why the piano always seems to find its way into the heart of the story.

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