Episode 1
Donald Macleod presents music from Britten's early years, including one of his best known soundtracks written for the GPO, Night Mail, and two works written in America.
Donald Macleod reveals some of the wealth of music English composer Benjamin Britten wrote during his remarkably successful career in the light of two enduring influences - his life partner, the tenor Peter Pears and his beloved native county of Suffolk.
The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ helped advance Britten's career by broadcasting two chamber pieces he had composed while still a student at the Royal College of Music. He was soon writing soundtracks for the GPO Film Unit as well as incidental music for the theatre, TV and radio. In programme 1, Donald introduces music from those early years including one of Britten's best known soundtracks for the GPO - 'Night Mail', and two works written during his wartime years in America - the Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, written for Pears, and his first opera, based on the story of the mythological lumberjack, Paul Bunyan.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Music Played
-
Benjamin Britten
Sally Gardens
Performer: Peter Pears (tenor) Performer: Benjamin Britten (piano)
- ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖB8015-2.
-
Benjamin Britten
A Boy was Born (finale)
Performer: Holst Singers Performer: St Paul’s Cathedral Choristers Performer: Conductor Stephen Layton
- Hyperion CDA66825.
-
Benjamin Britten
Night Mail
Performer: Simon Russell Beale
- NMC NMCD112.
-
Benjamin Britten
Britten
Performer: Seven Sonnets of Michaelangelo Performer: Peter Pears (tenor) Performer: Benjamin Britten (piano)
- ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖB8015-2.
-
Benjamin Britten
Young Apollo
Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Performer: Conductor Simon Rattle
- EMI CZS 573983-2.
-
Benjamin Britten
Paul Bunyan (extract)
Performer: Leah-Marian Jones (mezzo soprano) Performer: Timothy Robinson (tenor) Performer: Peter Coleman-Wright (baritone) Performer: Jeremy White (bass) Performer: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Performer: Conductor Richard Hickox
- Chandos 9781.
Broadcasts
- Mon 15 Nov 2010 12:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
- Mon 15 Nov 2010 22:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
- Mon 23 Jan 2012 12:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
- Mon 23 Jan 2012 18:30³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Composers A to Z
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.