Benjamin Britten: His Life and Operas

by Eric Walter White

Benjamin His Life and Operas

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better on the operas than on Britten himself. There are better books on the composer, which have been published in the 50 years since this volume, but this is a decent introduction to his operatic work.

[Maxwell DeMay · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 / 4 : If interested, read

[Biography of modern English composer Benjamin Britten, with a special emphasis on his operas]

The composer's life is tied up in a neat little package, with little interest in really examining either the composer's nature or impact. Presents some interesting, beginner's musical analysis of his operas, but without an explanation of the music's wider significance, it raises the question, 'who cares?'

There is one reference to homosexuality in the book, not in reference to the composer himself

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty much a middle-of-the-road biography. It picks up when it gets to the "and Operas" part, still it doesn't tell you too much. I guess it's a good place to start with Britten? Doesn't matter 'cause it seems like most of the biographies are OOP and are about $300. Collectors - fuckin' hate them.

[Andrew Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are unfamiliar with Britten, especially the operas, this is a good book to start with. Otherwise, skim and you MAY come across a fact or two you forgot about/didn't know.