#BenjaminBritten

[theweeowlart]

I didn't do a music recommendation last night, was too lazy, too cosy in my armchair with my book to bother with the interweb. I was listening to Benjamin Britten's Spring Symphony. It was premiered in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, in 1949 with Peter Pears, Jo Vincent and Kathleen Ferrier. Oh to have been there! https://theweeowlstudio.etsy.com/listing/1528013504 or you can search for 'TheWeeOwlStudio' on Etsy.

[atypeekmusic]

Benjamin Britten - War Requiem (London Symphony Orchestra) [2023 Remaste...

[aicollider]

Our regular escapade: Benjamin Britten's daring exploits in 490 BCE - Battle of Marathon

It’s 490 BCE and the Battle of Marathon is in full swing. Amidst the clashing of swords and the screams of soldiers, a sudden anomaly appears in the form of Benjamin Britten. The renowned composer, who died in 1976, has been mysteriously transported back in time and finds himself on the battlefield. At first, Britten is utterly bewildered by the scene before him. He’s never been in such a violent…

[jminter]

Vancouver Opera's A Midsummer Night's Dream wakes in 2 weeks

In just two weeks, the Vancouver Opera 2022-2023 season continues with the company premiere of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. British composer Benjamin Britten’s romantic, atmospheric opera makes its Vancouver Opera debut for three performances starting February 11th at 7:30pm, followed by Thursday, February 16th at 7:30pm and Sunday, February 19 at 2pm. Adapted from the Shakespeare play, Britten’s Dream promises an evening of enchantment as some of The Bard’s most iconic and outright hilarious characters are swept up in a whimsical whirlwind of magic potions, love triangles and mistaken identities. Dream is the story of four lovers, a feuding King and Queen of the fairies, and a comedic ensemble of Mechanicals. Each group is beautifully captured by Britten’s contrasting sound worlds, resulting in an accessible operatic fairy tale complete with plenty of comedy. “Presenting this magical production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a thrill for us at Vancouver Opera,” said Tom Wright, Vancouver Opera General Director. “Audiences are familiar with the story and we hope that familiarity will encourage patrons to come experience this fantastical opera. In our cast for Dream we are thrilled to have a descendant of composer Benjamin Britten join our company; Spencer Britten will be singing in the role of Lysander. This is a treat for audiences to have a multi-generational connection to this production here in Vancouver.”

Conductor Jacques Lacombe makes his return to Vancouver Opera after conducting Turandot in 2017. Director Aria Umezawa makes her debut with Vancouver Opera bringing her innovative work to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre stage. Daniel Moody is cast in the role of Oberon, with his faithful servant Puck portrayed by Kunji Ikeda. Magali Simard-Galdes is Tytania, Queen of the Faeries. The four lovers are Spencer Britten as Lysander, Clarence Frazer as Demetrius, Jonelle Sills as Helena, and Hillary Tufford as Hermia. Royal Court members include Neil Craighead as Theseus and Stephanie Tritchew as Hippolyta. Peter McGillivray plays Bottom, who becomes entangled with Tytania as she falls under a love spell. Fellow Mechanicals include Ian Cleary as Snout, Jason Cook as Starveling, Luka Kawabata as Quince, Peter Monaghan as Snug and Asitha Tennekoon as Flute. For a deeper look at the composer and work, on February 2nd the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) and Vancouver Opera are presenting the second instalment of Opera Adventures.  Dreaming Wide Awake: Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a free event allowing audiences to learn about the Vancouver Opera production.  Visit the VPL Central Branch Level 8 from 6:30pm for an evening of performances and presentations by the artists and experts who make Vancouver’s opera scene come to life exploring the life and musical influences of the composer, Benjamin Britten. Vancouver Opera’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre; February 11 & 16 at 7:30pm and February 19 at 2pm. Find tickets online at vancouveropera.ca Performances are sung in English with English SURTITLES™ projected above the stage. Read the full article

[stmaryredcliffe]

FREE CLASSICAL MUSIC TODAY Sat 26 November at 3pm. This afternoon our girls’ choir and choral scholars will perform the #benjaminbritten composition ‘A Ceremony of Carols’ in the breathtaking gothic splendour of #stmaryredcliffe church. Do join us for this special festive treat - all are very welcome! (at St Mary Redcliffe) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClbIoznMCKP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[musicainextenso]

Benjamin Britten: Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, op. 22

The song cycle was written in 1940, to be perfromed by the composer playing the piano part and Peter Pears singing. They were together from 1939 until Britten’s death, and their relationship was almost like an ideal marriage, although it had to be kept a secret, since homosexuality wasn’t decriminalised until 1967. Britten met Pears in the 1930’s, while being his accompanist. Many vocal parts, for example, the title role from the opera Peter Grimes were written especially for the vocal qualities of Pears. The sonnets’ Italian language served the purpose to express his feelings more freely. Michelangelo, who was not only a painter, but a Renaissance polyhistor, wrote these sonnets for his lover. Unfortunately Michelangelo lived in an age when being gay was not accepted by society, and maybe this is one of the reasony why his poetry is not well known.

This song cycle represents Britten’s musical syle which cannot be described by simple lables (although his musical language is sometimes almost neoclassical). The songs’ titles are the following in English:

I. Just as pen and ink

II. To what purpose do I express my intense desire

III. I see through your lovely eyes a sweet light

IV. You know that I know, my lord, that you know

V. Give back to my eyes, o fountains and rivers

VI. If there is a chastise love, a heavenly pity

VII. Noble spirit, in whom is reflected

I chose Britten and Pears’ performance for this song cycle.

Noémi Baki-Szmaler, guest editor - @une-barque-sur-l-ocean

[dauwdrupje]

Portrait of composer and conductor Aaron Copland (1900-1990). Copland defined the sound of American classical music in his compositions, with his ballet music Appalachian Spring and Billy the Kid as best known pieces. I always enjoy hearing his Old American Songs as well, a bundle of folk songs that had its first performance in 1950 at the Aldeburgh festival by his good friends Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears. Copland never actually came out of the closet (when his colleague and friend Leonard Bernstein asked him to, Copland replied 'I leave that to you'), but he openly lived and traveled with his partners and was friends with many other gay composers and artists. #aaroncopland #composer #queercomposer #musician #classicalmusic #conductor #benjaminbritten #peterpears #aldeburghfestival #portrait #americanmusic #appalachianspring #leonardbernstein https://www.instagram.com/p/CgXAWDWNaFP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[juriwoh]

Find out Moonshine! 新国立劇場オペラ『夏の夜の夢』。ブリテンが紡いだ夢と現を行き来する和声の変容に酔い、オーベロンを見事に歌いきった藤木大地さんに胸熱、華麗なステップを刻む妻屋さんは愛らしく、今回ピットに入っている知人が元気なことに安堵。夢だったのかしら。では皆様、お手を拝借。 #opera #benjaminbritten #amidsummernightsdream #新国立劇場 #ブリテン #夏の夜の夢 (New National Theatre Tokyo - Opera) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGFdubaHb-P/?igshid=ezqqkhyjacws

[larsfredriksvedberg]

#christopherisherwood #benjaminbritten (på/i Peter Pane) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9MY5T8JrOX/?igshid=1iel1phr9iie

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Nicola Benedetti’s illustrated story of Elgar’s beautiful Salut D’Amour. She plays the piece in the background. I realise upon wriitng this that I know very little about Elgar. I will see whether I can locate a good documentary on him. Despite being born in England, I have always been more attracted to continental composers such as Bach, Handel, etc. But the English were no less illustrious, and English styles were reflected in the music of continental composers. After all, Handel’s best years were arguably spent on our shores. Haydn profited from visiting London. Britten was admired as far as Russia (and possibly beyond), rubbing shoulders with Shostakovich, Rostropovich, and many more. And every patriotic Brit loves the sound of Land of Hope and Glory at national festivals. 

[solarine]

First night of rehearsal for an absolutely monumental undertaking: Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem! This is only the third time in my entire lifetime that this piece will have been performed in Colorado, so it’s pretty darn cool to be able to do this. #chorus #choralmusic #music #britten #benjaminbritten #brittenwarrequiem #singing #choir #coloradospringschorale https://www.instagram.com/p/B7XaDKbF3e0/?igshid=smkyu57qmg2z

[theweeowlart]

#Inktober2022 day 4, today's prompt is #scallop. I have drawn the sculpture by artist Maggi Hambling from Aldeburgh beach dedicated to Benjamin Britten. It has the words 'I hear those voices that will not be drowned' from Peter Grimes along the edge of the shell. #inktober #drawing #sketching #aldeburgh #aldeburghbeach #penandinkart #inkdrawing #benjaminbritten https://www.instagram.com/p/CjTXvyDrSRl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[janusnyx]

Breaking in another new reed. #oboepractice #oboereedmaking #oboelife #oboe #oboereeds #oboeplayer #oboist #oboista #latino #hautbois #idrs #idrslife #britten #benjaminbritten #sixmetamorphosesafterovid (at Spring Valley, Nevada) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzHagAYA4iU/?igshid=8a6c116e6orm

[greggchadwick]

Tonight at @ccityopera is the premiere of Benjamin Britten’s magnificent opera Billy Budd. I was commissioned by the Central City Opera to create this painting as a keynote image for the opera. Excited and honored to attend the premiere tonight. . with a solo exhibition of my opera inspired artwork at the Teller House in Central City. #art #music # beauty #Opera #colorado @denverarts @modernindenver #artistsoninstagram#anchorsaway #BenjaminBritten #Opera #colorado #Art #artistsoninstagram #colorado #cco2019 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz3ZDhkle7R/?igshid=1ub3tc6gjd0rf

[stmaryredcliffe]

Music for #Advent: Join us on Saturday 26 November at 3:00pm for a special advent concert: ‘Ceremony of Carols’ by #benjaminbritten sung by the #stmaryredcliffe Girls’ Choir and Choral Scholars. Why not join us for a very special musical afternoon in the magnificent surroundings of our wonderful gothic church. It’s free to enter and all are very welcome! (at St Mary Redcliffe) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClLb6XyMKHV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[metalorganisthead]

#nowspinning #vinyl #thriftstore #mancave #classicalmusic #landofhopeandglory #pumpandcircumstance #benjaminbritten #samuelbarber #edwardelgar #discogs #vinylcollection #vinylcommunity #vinylfreak #vinylcollector #vinyl2ndlife #1eurovinyl https://www.instagram.com/p/CiGQ06lLjqt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=