The operas of Benjamin Britten: The Complete Librettos Illustrated with Designs of the First Productions

by Benjamin Britten, David Herbert (Editor)

A reference work for all opera-lovers containing the librettos of all sixteen of Britten's Operas, revised against the composer's own music scores and illustrated with 140 pictures of set and costume designs for the earliest productions of each opera.

Genres: Music

384 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1979

About the author

Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, Order of Merit, Order of the Companions of Honour, was an English composer, conductor, and pianist.

Britten's interests as a composer were wide-ranging; he produced important music in such varied genres as orchestral, choral, solo vocal, chamber and instrumental, as well as film music. He also took a great interest in writing music for children and amateur performers, and was a fine pianist and conductor.

Reviews

[Sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The texts for Britten's operas can be hard to find, so this beautifully-structured volume deserves a place on any bookshelf. In the wake of Britten's death, inevitably, there was a flurry of content related to the composer. I think this book was a beneficiary of same.

A series of essays open the volume looking at the experience of designing, writing, and staging operas alongside Britten from those who did so, as well as a short piece by Dame Janet Baker on working as a singer on his operas. This is followed by the texts for all of the major works, from his early 'Paul Bunyan' with W.H. Auden through to 'Death in Venice'. Beautiful art along the way makes the journey that much more pleasant.