Composer. He was a native of Lowestoft in Suffolk and was educated at Gresham's School in Holt, Norfolk. He studied music under Frank Bridge and, later, John Ireland. Among his best-known works are the operas "Peter Grimes," "Albert Herring," "Billy Budd," "Paul Bunyan" and "The Turn of the Screw," as well as "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra." He is buried next to his companion, Sir Peter Pears, with whom he founded the English Opera Group and, in 1947, inaugurated the Aldeburgh Festival. In 1953, Benjamin Britten was made a Companion of Honour and, in 1965, was awarded the Order of Merit. In 1976, he was raised to the peerage, the first musician ever to be ennobled (Lord Berners had a title, but it was inherited.) For the last few months of his life, he was known as Lord Britten of Aldeburgh.
Composer. He was a native of Lowestoft in Suffolk and was educated at Gresham's School in Holt, Norfolk. He studied music under Frank Bridge and, later, John Ireland. Among his best-known works are the operas "Peter Grimes," "Albert Herring," "Billy Budd," "Paul Bunyan" and "The Turn of the Screw," as well as "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra." He is buried next to his companion, Sir Peter Pears, with whom he founded the English Opera Group and, in 1947, inaugurated the Aldeburgh Festival. In 1953, Benjamin Britten was made a Companion of Honour and, in 1965, was awarded the Order of Merit. In 1976, he was raised to the peerage, the first musician ever to be ennobled (Lord Berners had a title, but it was inherited.) For the last few months of his life, he was known as Lord Britten of Aldeburgh.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
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