To mark ten years since the death of Sir Christopher Lee, Irish-based producer and composer Damien Cain has reintroduced the world to a previously unreleased musical work: Elenore, a forgotten collaboration recorded in 2006.
Laid down at the revered Townhouse Studios in London, Elenore is a dynamic blend of orchestral and cinematic sound. Drawing inspiration from Poe’s famed poem The Raven, the piece explores grief and psychological descent through sweeping musical landscapes and Lee’s inimitable spoken-word delivery.
With Das Berliner Filmorchester providing the score under conductor Christian Hagitte, the recording layers dramatic strings and brooding harmonies into a gothic symphony that bridges classical and contemporary traditions.
“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 Resurrected Collaboration
Although recorded nearly 20 years ago, Elenore was never distributed internationally. After being paused during production, the track was archived — nearly forgotten until Cain revisited the project while reflecting on Lee’s legacy.
In time for the 10th anniversary of Lee’s passing in 2025, Cain returned to the original material, completing a fresh mix and remaster to fully capture the atmosphere of the original session. This new release offers audiences a rare look into an emotionally resonant collaboration that had remained unheard for far too long.
The Musical Side of a Cinema Icon
Sir Christopher Lee, widely acclaimed for his portrayal of Dracula, Saruman, and Count Dooku, remains one of cinema’s most commanding figures. Yet his creative ambition extended into the realm of music — particularly in the later stages of his career.
From operatic projects and narrative metal to conceptual works like Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross, Lee used his powerful baritone voice to reinterpret history, myth, and literature through sound. His delivery was always rich with theatrical flair and emotional gravity.
Where Elenore stands apart is in its literary essence. Instead of embracing genre or character, the track channels emotional truth — an artistic embodiment of gothic poetry through music.
Damien Cain’s Mission to Reawaken Forgotten Voices
Now based in Ireland, German composer Damien Cain is known for his experimental compositions that merge classical music with emotional narrative. His background in theatre and audio drama informs much of his work, often centred around lost stories and poetic retellings.
Cain approached Sir Christopher Lee in 2005 with a bold reinterpretation of The Raven, hoping to give the poem new life.
“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 is currently completing a new studio album, due in autumn 2025, continuing his pursuit of emotionally rich storytelling through music.
