Britten

by David Matthews

Benjamin Britten was one of the outstanding British composers of the twentieth century. He shot to international fame with his operas, performed by his own English Opera Group, and a series of extraordinary instrumental works. His music has won a central place in the repertoire and the affection of successive generations of listeners.

David Matthews brings to this biography his special insight as a fellow composer, former assistant, and lifelong friend of Britten, producing a uniquely personal, sensitive, and authoritative account.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

195 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Britten is quite a good read. Matthews chose to follow a standard biographical format – early years, adulthood, later years – so it can be hard to easily enter the story. I can imagine someone not familiar with Britten or his works being less than interested in the birth and family life of an English boy. There is also a lot of discussion of specific works, contemporaries, and technical terms, which could also be off-putting. But the author does an excellent job of cutting out the unnecessary parts of the story and focusing on those items that provide the most insight into Britten the artist.

Matthews is not a simple biographer of Britten, however. He also provides commentary and interpretation on Britten’s day-to-day life and events and how they affect his music. In general, I think Matthews accurately helps the reader draw connections, though his approach can be a bit dramatic and psychoanalytic. For example, Matthews describes the importance of a young Britten being sung to before bed by stating:

It is almost impossible to exaggerate the importance of this archetypal maternal practice to Britten’s psyche and to his later artistic development. In adult life, Britten was never entirely able to trust the outside world. How many of us can, one might ask? Yet Britten’s uneasiness was extreme, and his music reveals it: his world is a place of danger and often terror, when innocence is readily corrupted. There can be temporary reassurance in beauty and in love, but sleep is the only sure place where security and trust may be regained. The image of sleep as a refuge is something that Britten returns to again and again in his music ….

The book is a great, quick read which hopefully will encourage others to enjoy more of Britten’s works.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compact, helpful book that talks as much about Britten's music as it does his life. It is unflinching but kind in its approach to his life and relationships, and ultimately is a justifiably admiring portrait of a great 20th century composer.

[Joel Rodeback · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astonishing amount of depth for a 150-page biography, in a clear chronological layout, with wonderful and concise descriptions of the works themselves.