Skip to main content

Benjamin Britten

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


Past events

  1. 2023

    |HF Digital
  2. 2022

    dance |Nationale Opera & Ballet
  3. music |Het Concertgebouw - Grote zaal
  4. 2013

    music |BIMHUIS
  5. 2011

    music |Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ