Benjamin Britten
Born: 22nd November 1913, Lowestoft
Died: 4th December 1976, Aldeburgh
Nationality: English
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces. His best-known works include the opera Peter Grimes (1945), the War Requiem (1962) and the orchestral showpiece The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (1945).
Britten was born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, the son of a dentist. He showed talent from an early age.
Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Britten
Browse: Britten
Further Reading: Britten
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Mujer Fatal from Aigul Akhmetshina and Antonio Pappano
21st Aug 2026
Two strong musical personalities come together to spellbinding effect in a programme exploring the idea of the femme fatale, taking in songs by composers including Elena Roussanova, Montsalvatge, Bizet, Gershwin and Britten.
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Michael Waldron on Arthur Oldham
13th Apr 2026
To mark the release of Mentor (out now on Orchid Classics), the conductor of London Choral Sinfonia discusses the unique relationship between Benjamin Britten and his only private pupil, whose centenary falls this year.
Popular Genres: Britten
Orchestral
Chamber
Instrumental
Vocal
Choral
Popular Works: Britten
- A Boy was Born, Op. 3 (42)
- A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28 (121)
- A Hymn of Saint Columba (29)
- A Hymn to the Virgin (126)
- A New Year Carol (24)
- Down by the Salley Gardens (37)
- Festival Te Deum in E, Op. 32 (32)
- Folksongs Volume 1: British Isles · Folk Songs (28)
- Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Op. 33a (55)
- Hymn to St Cecilia, Op. 27 (57)
- Jubilate Deo in C major (1961) (40)
- Lachrymae for viola & piano, Op. 48 (48)
- Lachrymae for viola & strings, Op. 48a (34)
- Les illuminations, Op. 18 (64)
- Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63 (37)
- Nocturnal after John Dowland, Op. 70 (57)
- Nocturne, Op. 60 for tenor, obbligato instruments and strings (24)
- Passacaglia from Peter Grimes, Op. 33b (22)
- Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30 (48)
- Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op. 31 (53)
- Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, Op. 22 (27)
- Simple Symphony, Op. 4 (87)
- Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20 (47)
- Six Metamorphoses after Ovid for solo oboe, Op. 49 (35)
- Sonata for cello and piano in C major, Op. 65 (64)
- String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 25 (28)
- String Quartet No. 2 in C major, Op. 36 (30)
- String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94 (28)
- Suite for harp in C major, Op. 83 (38)
- Suite No. 1 for cello solo, Op. 72 (47)
- Suite No. 2 for cello solo, Op. 80 (40)
- Suite No. 3 for cello solo, Op. 87 (49)
- Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 68 (28)
- Te Deum in C (32)
- Temporal Variations for oboe & piano (23)
- The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34 (91)
- Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (54)
- Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 15 (41)
- War Requiem, Op. 66 (44)
- Winter Words, Op. 52 (23)
Recent Best Sellers: Britten
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New. Mujer Fatal
Aigul Akhmetshina (mezzo), Antonio Pappano (piano)
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Presto Recording of the Week, 21st August 2026
CD: $16.00Download from $10.75 -
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Special offer. Britten: Symphony for Cello and Orchestra
Paul Watkins (cello), Robert Murray (tenor) BBC Philharmonic, Edward Gardner
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BBC Music Magazine, April 2011, Disc of the month
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Building A Library, June 2022, Recommended Recording
CD: Original price $19.75 Reduced $16.39Download from $7.00 -
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Special offer. Britten: Peter Grimes
Stuart Skelton (Grimes), Erin Wall (Ellen), Roderick Williams (Balstrode), Susan Bickley (Auntie), Catherine Wyn-Rogers (Mrs Sedley), Robert Murray (Bob Boles), James Gilchrist (Horace Adams), Marcus Farnsworth (Ned Keene) Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner
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Gramophone Magazine, October 2020, Recording of the Month
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Presto Editor's Choice, September 2020
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2020
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Opera, November 2020, Disc of the Month
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The Times Records of the Year, 2020
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Gramophone Awards, 2021, Winner - Opera
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Gramophone Awards, 2021, Recording of the Year
2 SACDs: Original price $40.00 Reduced $33.20Download from $14.00 -
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New. Sir!
Astrig Siranossian, Nathanäel Gouin, London Symphony Orchestra, François-Xavier Roth
CD: Original price $20.25 Reduced $18.22Download from $9.25
New Releases: Britten
View all new releases-
New. Pilgrimage
Harry Christophers, The Sixteen
Vinyl Record: $27.50Download from $11.00 -
New. Sir!
Astrig Siranossian, Nathanäel Gouin, London Symphony Orchestra, François-Xavier Roth
CD: Original price $20.25 Reduced $18.22Download from $9.25 -
New. Mujer Fatal
Aigul Akhmetshina (mezzo), Antonio Pappano (piano)
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Presto Recording of the Week, 21st August 2026
CD: $16.00Download from $10.75 -
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New. Pilgrimage
Harry Christophers & The Sixteen
Download from $11.00
Future Releases: Britten
View all future releases-
Coming soon. KIN
Lotte Betts-Dean (mezzo-soprano), Joseph Havlat (piano)
CD: $26.00 -
Coming soon. A Britten Songfest
Daniel Johannsen (tenor), Andreas Fröschl (piano)
CD: $37.75Download from $10.00 -
Coming soon. Britten: Gloriana
Anna Caterina Antonacci (Queen Elizabeth) , Leonardo Capalbo (Robert Devereux), Paula Murrihy (Frances), Duncan Rock (Mountjoy), Sophie Bevan (Penelope), Leigh Melrose (Sir Robert Cecill), David Soar (Sir Walter Raleigh), Benedict Nelson (Henry Cuffe), Teatro Real Chorus & Orchestra, Ivor Bolton, David McVicar
Blu-ray + DVD Video: $35.75 -
Coming soon. EK-R: FIVE STAGES OF TRANSFORMATION
Raphael Zweifel (cello, voice), Boris Bergmann (piano)
CD: $19.75Download from $10.00
