Benjamin Britten must be accepted as the most outstanding English composer working in the mid-20th century. He won a significant international reputation while remaining thoroughly English in inspiration, a feat that his immediate predecessors had been unable fully to achieve.

Operas

Britten won a triumph in 1945 with his opera Peter Grimes, first staged when Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London reopened after the Second World War. The aspirations of the central character, the fisherman Peter Grimes, a man at odds with the community in which he lives, are frustrated by a combination of social pressure and sheer chance, leading to his suicide. The drama is set against the background of the sea, in various moods, summarised in Four Sea Interludes, whichforms an evocative piece of concert repertoire. Britten’s subsequent operas include works on a smaller scale for his English Opera Group: The Rape of Lucretia, Albert Herring and The Turn of the Screw. Billy Budd and the coronation opera Gloriana were followed by A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the television opera Owen Wingrave, and the remarkable operatic version of Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice. His three church parables draw inspiration from Japan and from their medieval setting. All these works constitute a very significant element in international dramatic and operatic repertoire. An early collaboration with the poet WH Auden, Paul Bunyan, was staged in New York in 1941, to be revised in 1974 for publication.

Orchestral Music

The best known of all Britten’s orchestral music must be Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell (more generally known under its popular title The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra), a work that is both a tribute to the great 17th-century English composer Henry Purcell and a useful teaching piece. Lachrymae, subtitled ‘Reflections on a Theme of Dowland’, is a tribute to a still earlier predecessor, the lutenist John Dowland; arranged by the composer shortly before his death from its original viola and piano version, it is immensely moving. The early Matinées Musicales, based on the music of Rossini, is an attractive piece, and the Simple Symphony for string orchestra, based on tunes written by the composer in childhood, is a useful element in string orchestra repertoire. Britten’s Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, written in 1937, serves as a brilliant tribute to his teacher, and his Piano Concerto and Violin Concerto come from the same period. His Cello Symphony was written in 1963 for his friend, the Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich.

Vocal and Choral Music

Britten was strongly influenced in his music and in his life by the tenor Peter Pears. For him he wrote a quantity of songs, including the splendid Serenade for tenor, horn and strings and the evocative Nocturne (both incomparable settings of the words of various English poets), as well as several other settings of poets (from Michelangelo to Thomas Hardy) for tenor and piano. His folksong arrangements have pleased a wide audience. Major choral works include the War Requiem, which combines the text of the Latin Requiem with the war poems of Wilfred Owen and forms an expression of Britten’s own pacifism. His Ceremony of Carols, settings accompanied by solo harp and designed, as were some other works, for boys’ voices, marked his return from America to wartime England in 1942.

Chamber Music

Britten’s chamber music includes a cello sonata and three cello suites for his friend Rostropovich, a fine suite for the Welsh harpist Osian Ellis, and Nocturnal after John Dowland for the guitarist Julian Bream. Of his three numbered string quartets, Quartet No 2 was written to mark the 250th anniversary of the death of Purcell, who provides the quartet’s inspiration.


Show More



29 items found

Title
ALL-STAR ORCHESTRA (THE): Program 15: British Enigmas / Program 16: Mysterious Mountain (G. Schwarz)
ALL-STAR ORCHESTRA (THE): Program 15: British Enigmas / Program 16: Mysterious Mountain (G. Schwarz)
Composers: Bloch, Ernest -- Britten, Benjamin -- Copland, Aaron -- Creston, Paul -- Elgar, Edward -- Fuleihan, Anis -- Goossens, Eugene -- Hanson, Howard -- Harris, Roy -- Hovhaness, Alan -- Piston, Walter -- Rogers, Bernard -- Schumann, William -- Taylor, Deems
Artists: All-Star Orchestra, The -- Schwarz, Gerard
Label/Producer: Naxos
BRITTEN, B.: 6 Metamorphoses after Ovid, Op. 49 (Daniel)
BRITTEN, B.: 6 Metamorphoses after Ovid, Op. 49 (Daniel)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artist: Daniel, Nicholas
Label/Producer: Music In Motion
BRITTEN, B.: Billy Budd [Opera] (Teatro Real, 2017)
BRITTEN, B.: Billy Budd [Opera] (Teatro Real, 2017)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Bolton, Ivor -- Gillet, Christopher -- Imbrailo, Jacques -- Jurgens, Torben -- Madrid Teatro Real Chorus -- Madrid Teatro Real Orchestra -- Oliemans, Thomas -- Pequenos Cantores de la Jorcam -- Rock, Duncan -- Sherratt, Brindley -- Soar, David -- Spence, Toby
Label/Producer: Bel Air Classiques
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: I. Dialogo (Masterclass With Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Montalvan)
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: I. Dialogo (Masterclass With Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Montalvan)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Bardolet, Ferran -- Helmerson, Frans -- Montalvan, Ofelia
Label/Producer: Reina Sofía School of Music
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: I. Dialogo (Masterclass with Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Ortega Chavaldas)
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: I. Dialogo (Masterclass with Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Ortega Chavaldas)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Bardolet, Ferran -- Helmerson, Frans -- Ortega Chavaldas, Miguel Angel
Label/Producer: Reina Sofía School of Music
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: II. Scherzo (Masterclass with Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Ortega Chavaldas)
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: II. Scherzo (Masterclass with Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Ortega Chavaldas)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Bardolet, Ferran -- Helmerson, Frans -- Ortega Chavaldas, Miguel Angel
Label/Producer: Reina Sofía School of Music
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: II. Scherzo-pizzicato (Masterclass With Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Montalvan)
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: II. Scherzo-pizzicato (Masterclass With Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Montalvan)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Bardolet, Ferran -- Helmerson, Frans -- Montalvan, Ofelia
Label/Producer: Reina Sofía School of Music
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: III. Elegia (Masterclass With Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Montalvan)
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: III. Elegia (Masterclass With Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Montalvan)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Bardolet, Ferran -- Helmerson, Frans -- Montalvan, Ofelia
Label/Producer: Reina Sofía School of Music
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: III. Elegia (Masterclass with Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Ortega Chavaldas)
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: III. Elegia (Masterclass with Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Ortega Chavaldas)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Bardolet, Ferran -- Helmerson, Frans -- Ortega Chavaldas, Miguel Angel
Label/Producer: Reina Sofía School of Music
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: IV. Marcia (Masterclass With Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Montalvan)
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: IV. Marcia (Masterclass With Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Montalvan)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Bardolet, Ferran -- Helmerson, Frans -- Montalvan, Ofelia
Label/Producer: Reina Sofía School of Music
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: IV. Marcia (Masterclass with Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Ortega Chavaldas)
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: IV. Marcia (Masterclass with Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Ortega Chavaldas)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Bardolet, Ferran -- Helmerson, Frans -- Ortega Chavaldas, Miguel Angel
Label/Producer: Reina Sofía School of Music
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: V. Moto Perpetuo (Masterclass With Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Montalvan)
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: V. Moto Perpetuo (Masterclass With Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Montalvan)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Bardolet, Ferran -- Helmerson, Frans -- Montalvan, Ofelia
Label/Producer: Reina Sofía School of Music
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: V. Moto Perpetuo (Masterclass with Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Ortega Chavaldas)
BRITTEN, B.: Cello Sonata, Op. 65: V. Moto Perpetuo (Masterclass with Frans Helmerson) (Bardolet, Ortega Chavaldas)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Bardolet, Ferran -- Helmerson, Frans -- Ortega Chavaldas, Miguel Angel
Label/Producer: Reina Sofía School of Music
BRITTEN, B.: Death in Venice (ENO, 2013)
BRITTEN, B.: Death in Venice (ENO, 2013)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Caldow, Laura -- Coward, Gary -- Daggett, Philip -- Dennis, Anna -- Dwyer, Adrian -- Edgar-Wilson, Richard -- English National Opera Chorus -- English National Opera Orchestra -- Farnsworth, Marcus -- Gardner, Edward -- Graham Hall, John -- Henderson, Joyce -- Hulle, Peter Van -- Johnston, Charles -- Mather, Mia Angelina -- McGovern, Jonathan -- Mead, Tim -- Napier-Burrows, Paul -- Newman, David -- Novis, Constance -- Rich, Anton -- Shaw, Madeleine -- Shehu, Xhuliana -- Shore, Andrew -- Teixeira, Marcio -- Zaldivar, Sam
Label/Producer: Opus Arte
BRITTEN, B.: Death in Venice [Opera] (Teatro Real, 2014)
BRITTEN, B.: Death in Venice [Opera] (Teatro Real, 2014)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Borczyk, Tomasz -- Costanzo, Anthony Roth -- Daszak, John -- Madrid Teatro Real Chorus -- Madrid Teatro Real Orchestra -- Melrose, Leigh -- Perez, Alejo -- Rock, Duncan
Label/Producer: Naxos
BRITTEN, B.: Midsummer Night's Dream (A), Act I: Welcome wanderer! / SCHUBERT, F.: Wasserflut (Masterclass with Philippe Jaroussky) (Benos-Djian)
BRITTEN, B.: Midsummer Night's Dream (A), Act I: Welcome wanderer! / SCHUBERT, F.: Wasserflut (Masterclass with Philippe Jaroussky) (Benos-Djian)
Composers: Britten, Benjamin -- Schubert, Franz
Artists: Benos-Djian, Paul-Antoine -- Jaroussky, Philippe
Label/Producer: DakApp
BRITTEN, B.: Owen Wingrave, Op. 85 [Opera] (Film version, 2001)
BRITTEN, B.: Owen Wingrave, Op. 85 [Opera] (Film version, 2001)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Barstow, Josephine -- Berlin Deutsche Symphony Orchestra -- Dawson, Anne -- Finley, Gerald -- Gale, Elizabeth -- Hellekant, Charlotte -- Hill, Martyn -- Marlton, Hilton -- Nagano, Kent -- Savidge, Peter -- Westminster Cathedral Choir
Label/Producer: Digital Classics Distribution
BRITTEN, B.: Peter Grimes [Opera] (Aldeburgh Festival, 2013)
BRITTEN, B.: Peter Grimes [Opera] (Aldeburgh Festival, 2013)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Allen, Giselle -- Bedford, Charmian -- Bedford, Steuart -- Britten-Pears Orchestra -- Gillett, Christopher -- Guildhall School of Music and Drama Chorus -- Hutton, Alexandra -- Jones, Charles Price -- Keeble, Gaynor -- Kempster, David -- Murray, Robert -- Oke, Alan -- Opera North Chorus -- Richardson, Stephen -- Waddington, Henry -- Wyn-Rogers, Catherine
Label/Producer: EuroArts
BRITTEN, B.: Rape of Lucretia (The) [Opera] (Glyndebourne, 2015)
BRITTEN, B.: Rape of Lucretia (The) [Opera] (Glyndebourne, 2015)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Alder, Louise -- Clayton, Allan -- Hussain, Leo -- London Philharmonic Orchestra -- Rice, Christine -- Rock, Duncan -- Rose, Matthew -- Royal, Kate -- Sumuel, Michael -- Wyn-Rogers, Catherine
Label/Producer: Opus Arte
BRITTEN, B.: Sinfonietta / SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Cello Concerto No. 1 / Symphony No. 1 (Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Currentzis)
BRITTEN, B.: Sinfonietta / SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Cello Concerto No. 1 / Symphony No. 1 (Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Currentzis)
Composers: Britten, Benjamin -- Shostakovich, Dmitry
Artists: Currentzis, Teodor -- Isserlis, Steven -- Mahler Chamber Orchestra
Label/Producer: EuroArts
BRITTEN, B.: Turn of the Screw (The) (Aix-en-Provence Festival, 2001)
BRITTEN, B.: Turn of the Screw (The) (Aix-en-Provence Festival, 2001)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Delunsch, Mireille -- Dumait, Olivier -- Harding, Daniel -- Mahler Chamber Orchestra -- McLaughlin, Marie -- Miller, Marlin -- Monk, Gregory -- Schaer, Hanna
Label/Producer: Bel Air Classiques
BRITTEN, B.: Turn of the Screw (The) [Opera] (Schwetzinger Festspiele, 1990)
BRITTEN, B.: Turn of the Screw (The) [Opera] (Schwetzinger Festspiele, 1990)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: Attfield, Helen -- Bedford, Steuart -- Cannan, Phyllis -- Davies, Menai -- Greager, Richard -- Linay, Samuel -- Obata, Machiko -- Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Label/Producer: EuroArts
BRITTEN, B.: War Requiem (Nelsons)
BRITTEN, B.: War Requiem (Nelsons)
Composer: Britten, Benjamin
Artists: City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus -- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra -- City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Chorus -- Muller-Brachmann, Hanno -- Nelsons, Andris -- Padmore, Mark -- Wall, Erin
Label/Producer: UNITEL
CLASSICAL DESTINATIONS II - Music from the Series
CLASSICAL DESTINATIONS II - Music from the Series
Composers: Bartok, Bela -- Britten, Benjamin -- Elgar, Edward -- Handel, George Frideric -- Holst, Gustav -- Ravel, Maurice -- Respighi, Ottorino -- Rossini, Gioachino -- Strauss, Richard
Artists: Australian Chamber Orchestra -- Australian Chamber Orchestra 2 -- Macliver, Sara -- Rathbone, Helena -- Tognetti, Richard
Label/Producer: Bredon Hill Media
HOLLIGER, Heinz: OBOE FANTASY (Holliger, Keller Quartet)
HOLLIGER, Heinz: OBOE FANTASY (Holliger, Keller Quartet)
Composers: Britten, Benjamin -- Holliger, Heinz -- Martinu, Bohuslav -- Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Artists: Eyck, Carolina -- Holliger, Heinz -- Keller Quartet -- Kolinsky, Robert
Label/Producer: EuroArts
MOZART, W.A.: Symphony No. 40 / BRITTEN, B.: Nocturne (Pears, Britten)
MOZART, W.A.: Symphony No. 40 / BRITTEN, B.: Nocturne (Pears, Britten)
Composers: Britten, Benjamin -- Mendelssohn, Felix -- Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Artists: Britten, Benjamin -- English Chamber Orchestra -- Pears, Peter
Label/Producer: ICA Classics
Orchestral Music - SAINT-SAENS, C. / PROKOFIEV, S. / BRITTEN, B. (Britten-Pears Orchestra, Alsop)
Orchestral Music - SAINT-SAENS, C. / PROKOFIEV, S. / BRITTEN, B. (Britten-Pears Orchestra, Alsop)
Composers: Britten, Benjamin -- Prokofiev, Sergey -- Saint-Saens, Camille
Artists: Alsop, Marin -- Britten-Pears Orchestra -- Lenahan, Kelly -- Parkes, Hayley
Label/Producer: Naxos
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY AT 100 (2011 Centennial Opening Night Gala)
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY AT 100 (2011 Centennial Opening Night Gala)
Composers: Adams, John -- Britten, Benjamin -- Copland, Aaron -- Mendelssohn, Felix
Artists: Perlman, Itzhak -- San Francisco Symphony Orchestra -- Tilson Thomas, Michael
Label/Producer: SFS Media
TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I.: Rococo Variations / Pezzo capriccioso / Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture (Rostropovich, Britten) (1968)
TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I.: Rococo Variations / Pezzo capriccioso / Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture (Rostropovich, Britten) (1968)
Composers: Britten, Benjamin -- Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Il'yich
Artists: Aldeburgh Festival Choir -- Britten, Benjamin -- English Chamber Orchestra -- Pears, Peter -- Rostropovich, Mstislav
Label/Producer: ICA Classics