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Thursday 22 November 2012

Benjamin Britten (1913 – 1976), UK. Composer.

b. 22 November 1913  
d.  4 December 1976




English composer, conductor, and pianist, has a firm reputation as possibly the greatest English composer of since Henry Purcell, and as one of the leading composers globally of the twentieth century. He is particularly important in the field of opera.  According to Operabase, he has more operas played worldwide than any other composer born in the 20th century, and only Puccini and Richard Strauss come ahead of him if the list is extended to all operas composed after 1900.

He first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work "A Boy Was Born" in 1934, and continued to produce important works for four decades. Having previously declined a knighthood, Britten accepted a life peerage in 1976 as Baron Britten, of Aldeburgh, a few months before his death.

He and his partner the tenor Sir Peter Pears, are one of the best known gay couples in music. Their two graves lie side by side in Aldeburgh.

In Paul Russell's book "The Gay 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Gay Men and Lesbians, Past and Present", Britten in listed at number 73.


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