© 2025 Hawaiʻi Public Radio

Donate

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

Classical Music Conversations

Conductor Rick Benjamin on Morning Café

Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By Gene Schiller

Published May 8, 2025 at 4:09 PM HST

Silent film music expert and conductor Rick Benjamin stopped by Morning Café to preview Chamber Music Hawaiʻi’s upcoming screening of Buster Keaton’s silent film classic "The General." Benjamin discusses the origins of music in early cinema, exploring why live music became an essential part of the movie-going experience. He also shares insights into the curated musical compilation accompanying the 1926 film, highlighting the relationship between its score and visuals in the silent film era.

Chamber Music Hawaiʻi presents The General with live accompaniment by Tresemble at 7 p.m. on May 10 at the Orvis Auditorium. For tickets and more information, visit chambermusichawaii.org.

This classical music conversation aired on May 8. Morning Café airs weekdays beginning at 8 a.m. on HPR-2.

Tags

Classical Music Conversations Morning Concert CLASSICAL MUSIC INTERVIEWS chamber music hawaii

Gene Schiller

Gene Schiller joined HPR in September, 1993 as a board operator. His first break came when he was asked to fill in for Music Director Alan Bunin. Six months later, he became the new host of Evening Concert, a program that runs on HPR-2 from 6 to 8 p.m. on weeknights.

See stories by Gene Schiller

Related Stories

Classical Music Conversations

Rick Benjamin and Chamber Music Hawaiʻi presents Buster Keaton's "The General"

Sharene Keliʻipunilei Lum Taba

Conductor Rick Benjamin joins Chamber Music Hawaiʻi's Jim Moffitt and Classical Pacific host Sharene Taba to discuss Buster Keaton's 1926 comedy "The General." The silent film will be shown on Saturday, May 8 at the Orvis Auditorium with the original music performed live by members of the three ensembles of Chamber Music Hawaiʻi, Tresemble.
Classical Music Conversations

A Morning with Mozart and Chamber Music Hawaiʻi on Morning Café

Gene Schiller

Chamber Music Hawaiʻi’s Jim Moffitt and Tommy Morrison stopped by Morning Café to preview Saturday’s Spring Wind Quintet concert, featuring selections from Mozart’s Harmoniemusik and the Gran Partita.