Benjamin Britten

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), also called Lord Britten, was a British composer famous for his vocal music, especially operas. His most important operas include «Peter Grimes» (1945), «The Rape of Lucretia» (1946), «Albert Herring» (1947), «Billy Budd» (1951), «The Turnofthe Screw» (1954), «A Midsummer Night's Dream» (1960).

Britten wrote much children's music. To introduce young people to music, he wrote «The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra» (1945). To involve them in musical performances, he wrote «Noye's Fludde» (1958). «Noye's Fludde», a religious play with music, is based on a medieval miracle play and involves a large cast of children and amateurs. «Curlew River» (1964), also a religious play with music, is based on a Japanese «no» play. Britten's «War Requiem» (1962) is one of his finest works. It is based on the Roman Catholic Mass for the dead, blended with verses from antiwar poems by the English poet Wilfred Owen.

Britten skillfully combined words and music in his songs, which rank among his best works. His songs include the group «Les Illuminations' (1939) and a series of songs that begins with «Canticle I» (1947) and ends with «Canticle V» (1971). «A Ceremony of Carols» (1942) is a group of choral songs with words from medieval English texts.

Edward Benjamin Britten was born in Lowestoft. He was a child prodigy and composed several works, including an oratorio and six string quartets, before he was 12 years old. About the age of 12, Britten began studying with the English compositor Frank Rrirtcrp

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