Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CHwas 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 opera Peter Grimes, the War Requiemand the orchestral showpiece The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionComposer
Date of Birth22 November 1913
inspiring sleep writing
The old idea of a composer suddenly having a terrific idea and sitting up all night to write it is nonsense. Nighttime is for sleeping.
music beautiful musical-life
It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful.
love two mystery
These two are not two, love has made them one. Amo Ergo Sum! And by its mystery each is no less but more.
music arrogant faults
I am an arrogant and impatient listener, but in the case of a few composers, a very few, when I hear a work I do not like, I am convinced that it is my own fault. Verdi is one of those composers.
doe
Music does not excite until it is performed.
music composer models
The model of a composer.
fog bricks-and-mortar driving
Composing is like driving down a foggy road.
relax one-day trying
One day I'll be able to relax a bit, and try and become a good composer.
strength music beauty
It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty of loneliness of pain: of strength and freedom. The beauty of disappointment and never-satisfied love. The cruel beauty of nature and everlasting beauty of monotony.
bricks-and-mortar fog color
Composing is like driving down a foggy road toward a house. Slowly you see more details of the house-the color of the slates and bricks, the shape of the windows. The notes are the bricks and the mortar of the house.
opera
I liked the opera very much. Everything but the music.