Profile
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) is considered one of the major English composers of the previous century. He was especially known for his operas and other compositions in which singing plays an important role. He wrote much of his music for his partner, the tenor Peter Pears. He founded the Aldeburgh Festival in 1948 together with Pears and producer and librettist Eric Crozier, which is still held under the name Aldeburgh Music. He was ennobled shortly before his death. Britten’s work was regularly performed at the Holland Festival, which featured the first complete performance of Britten’s War Requiem. The Rape of Lucretia was on the programme in 2011.
Major work
1937 Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge
1945 Peter Grimes (opera)
1962 War Requiem
1973 Death in Venice (opera)
Awards
1961 Hansischer Goethe-Preis
1965 Order of Merit
1974 Ernst von Siemens Musikpreis
1976 Ennobled
Honorary degrees from 19 conservatories and universities in Europa the United States