“The encounters with Art” will dedicate to 100th anniversary of Benjamin Britten

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS: “The encounters with Art” series of “Cafesjian” Center for the Arts will be dedicated this time to the centenary of world renowned British composer Benjamin Britten.

The Art Center informed “Armenpress” that at the course of the concert program the Chairman of the Composers’ Union of Armenia, composer Aram Satyan will speak about “Benjamin Britten in Armenia”. “Zvartnots Renaissance” Fund's Soloist Group will present pieces by Britten.

After that screening of film “A time there was…” by Tony Palmer will be displayed.

Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten,(22 November 1913– 4 December 1976) was an English composer, conductor and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British classical music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces. His best-known works include the operaPeter Grimes (1945), theWar Requiem(1962) and the orchestral showpieceThe Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra(1945).

Born inSuffolk, the son of a dentist, Britten showed talent from an early age. He studied at theRoyal College of Musicin London and privately with the composer Frank. Britten first came to public attention with thea cappellachoral workA Boy Was Bornin 1934. With the premiere ofPeter Grimesin 1945, he leapt to international fame. Over the next 28 years, he wrote 14 more operas, establishing himself as one of the leading 20th-century composers in the genre. In addition to large-scale operas forSadler's WellsandCovent Garden, he wrote "chamber operas" for small forces, suitable for performance in venues of modest size. Among the best known of these isThe Turn of the Screw(1954). Recurring themes in the operas are the struggle of an outsider against a hostile society, and the corruption of innocence.

Britten's other works range from orchestral to choral, solo vocal, chamber and instrumental as well as film music. He took a great interest in writing music for children and amateur performers, including the operaNoye's Fludde, aMissa Brevis, and the song collectionFriday Afternoons. He often composed with particular performers in mind. His most frequent and important muse was his personal and professional partner, thetenorPeter Pears; others includedKathleen Ferrier, Jennifer Vyvyan,Janet Baker,Dennis Brain,Julian Bream,Dietrich Fischer-DieskauandMstislav Rostropovich. Britten was a celebrated pianist and conductor, performing many of his own works in concert and on record. He also performed and recorded works by others, such asBach'sBrandenburg concertos,Mozartsymphonies, and song cycles bySchubertandSchumann.

Together with Pears and the librettist and producerEric Crozier, Britten founded the annualAldeburgh Festivalin 1948, and he was responsible for the creation of Snape Maltingsconcert hall in 1967. In his last year, he was the first composer to be given alife peerage.