To honour a decade since the passing of Sir Christopher Lee, Irish-based composer and producer Damien Cain has reissued a long-forgotten collaboration from 2006 — a richly layered composition titled Elenore.
First recorded at London’s iconic Townhouse Studios, Elenore is a stirring philharmonic crossover work, blending sweeping orchestral arrangements with cinematic depth. Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, the piece reframes the legendary poem as a musical journey through sorrow, obsession, and descent into madness — all delivered through Lee’s unmistakable vocal performance.
Performed with Das Berliner Filmorchester and conducted by Christian Hagitte, the track features soaring strings and foreboding harmonies, weaving a soundscape that draws on classical heritage and modern film score techniques. The result is an emotionally immersive piece that defies easy categorisation.
“Elenore is not just a song – it’s a theatrical experience,” says Damien Cain. “Sir Christopher brought a rare gravity to every word. His performance is like a monologue from another world – part lament, part prophecy. The fact that this recording lay dormant for so long only adds to its mystique.”
A Long-Buried Masterwork, Finally Heard
Though the track was recorded nearly 20 years ago, Elenore was never released beyond limited circles. Shelved after post-production and left in digital storage, it remained largely forgotten — until now.
With 2025 marking ten years since Sir Christopher’s passing, Cain returned to the original tapes, overseeing a meticulous remix and remaster to bring the work to life anew. The release acts both as a tribute and a rediscovery — revealing an aspect of Lee’s artistic range rarely heard by international audiences.
More Than Just an Actor
Celebrated for unforgettable roles such as Dracula, Saruman, and Count Dooku, Sir Christopher Lee (1922–2015) left an indelible mark on screen history. But his creative passion reached beyond acting.
In his later years, Lee explored musical expression through operatic performances, spoken word, and heavy metal — releasing concept albums like Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross and The Omens of Death. His deep, resonant voice lent itself naturally to musical storytelling, particularly in dramatic and historical contexts.
Elenore, however, occupies a unique space in Lee’s discography — drawing its power from literary foundations and classical orchestration, rather than fantasy or historical character. It is an exploration of raw emotion, brought vividly to life through voice and strings.
Damien Cain’s Vision of Emotional Storytelling
Damien Cain, a German-born composer based in Ireland, is renowned for merging classical motifs with narrative music. With roots in theatre and audio drama, his work spans gothic, rock, and orchestral genres — often focusing on overlooked stories and transformative themes.
His collaboration with Lee began in 2005, sparked by a shared interest in literary interpretation.
“I wanted to take a poem people thought they knew and make them feel it differently,” Cain reflects. “Christopher instinctively understood that. He didn’t perform The Raven – he became the voice inside it.”
Cain’s next studio album, expected in autumn 2025, will continue this approach to orchestral storytelling.
