Musical Cliches

CHAPLINOPERAS BY BENEDICT MASON

ChaplinOperas was commissioned by the Ensemble Modern as part of the Chaplin Centenary in 1988 using three short silent Chaplin films, Easy Street, The Immigrant and The Adventurer. The music is played as an accompaniment as the films roll in grainy 35mm prints. But it is not mere accompaniment.

The audience has the traditional silent film piano treatment in their heads and is confronted with something which goes way beyond their expectations…