Benjamin Britten in Context

Book Overview

Benjamin Britten, pianist, conductor, educator, composer of a wide range of music from large-scale operas and choral works to string quartets and songs, is acknowledged as a pivotal figure in mid-twentieth-century Britain. This volume explores the contexts for his multi-faceted career and his engagement with his contemporaries in music, art, literature, and film, British musical institutions, royal and governmental entities, and the church, as well as his ground-breaking projects, philosophical and ideological tenets. The book is thematically structured in five parts: Britten's relationships with Peter Pears, his close friends, mentors, and colleagues; musical life in Britain; his interactions with previous and contemporary generations of composers; his professional work with choreographers, librettists, stage designers, and directors; and his socio-cultural, religious, and political environment. The chapters shed light on the many opportunities and challenges of post-war British musical life that shaped Britten's creative output.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1108721842
• ISBN13: 9781108721844
• Release Date: May 2024
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 426 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"