Benjamin Britten

Britten in 1968, by [[Hans Wild Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces. His best-known works include the opera ''Peter Grimes'' (1945), the ''War Requiem'' (1962) and the orchestral showpiece ''The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra'' (1945).

Britten was born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, the son of a dentist. He showed talent from an early age. He studied at the Royal College of Music in London and privately with the composer Frank Bridge. Britten first came to public attention with the ''a cappella'' choral work ''A Boy Was Born'' in 1934. With the premiere of ''Peter Grimes'' in 1945, he leapt to international fame. Over the next 28 years, he wrote 14 more operas, establishing himself as one of the leading 20th-century composers in the genre. In addition to large-scale operas for Sadler's Wells and Covent Garden, he wrote chamber operas for small forces, suitable for performance in venues of modest size. Among the best known of these is ''The Turn of the Screw'' (1954). Recurring themes in his operas include the struggle of an outsider against a hostile society and the corruption of innocence.

Britten's other works range from orchestral to choral, solo vocal, chamber and instrumental as well as film music. He took a great interest in writing music for children and amateur performers, including the opera ''Noye's Fludde'', a ''Missa Brevis'', and the song collection ''Friday Afternoons''. He often composed with particular performers in mind. His most frequent and important muse was his personal and professional partner, the tenor Peter Pears; others included Kathleen Ferrier, Jennifer Vyvyan, Janet Baker, Dennis Brain, Julian Bream, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Osian Ellis and Mstislav Rostropovich. Britten was a celebrated pianist and conductor, performing many of his own works in concert and on record. He also performed and recorded works by others, such as Bach's ''Brandenburg Concertos'', Mozart symphonies, and song cycles by Schubert and Schumann.

Together with Pears and the librettist and producer Eric Crozier, Britten founded the annual Aldeburgh Festival in 1948, and he was responsible for the creation of Snape Maltings concert hall in 1967. In his last year, he was the first composer to be given a life peerage. Provided by Wikipedia
Showing 81 - 100 results of 488 for search 'Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976', query time: 0.04s Refine Results
  1. 81

    Death in Venice : an opera in two acts : op. 88 / by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 1975
    Musical Score Book
  2. 82

    Three suites for cello : opp. 72, 80 & 87 / by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 1986
    Musical Score Book
  3. 83

    Choral dances, from Gloriana : for mixed voices / by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 1954
    Musical Score Book
  4. 84
  5. 85

    Folk song arrangements. by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 1947
    Musical Score Book
  6. 86

    Folk-song arrangements. by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 1943
    Musical Score Book
  7. 87

    Folk song arrangements. by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 1946
    Other Authors:
    Musical Score Book
  8. 88

    Three suites, opp. 72, 80 & 87 : for solo viola / by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 2013
    Other Authors:
    Musical Score Book
  9. 89

    Collected songs : 63 songs / by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 2013
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    Musical Score Book
  10. 90

    Collected songs : 60 songs / by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 2013
    Other Authors:
    Musical Score Book
  11. 91

    The turn of the screw / by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 2005
    Other Authors:
    Video DVD
  12. 92
  13. 93

    Albert Herring / by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 2005
    Other Authors:
    Conference Proceeding Video DVD
  14. 94

    Folksong arrangements = Chansons populaires. by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 1946
    Other Authors: “…Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976…”
    Musical Score Book
  15. 95

    Folksong arrangements = Chansons populaires. by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 1946
    Other Authors:
    Musical Score Book
  16. 96
  17. 97

    1812 : the swingle singers. by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 2005
    CONNECT
    Electronic Audio
  18. 98

    Orchestral works / by Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976

    Published 2005
    Other Authors:
    CONNECT
    Electronic Audio
  19. 99
  20. 100