Britten-Pears Foundation

 

Welcome to the Britten-Pears Foundation, established to promote the musical legacy of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears. Britten was one of the foremost composers of the 20th century and developed with the tenor Peter Pears a creative partnership which both inspired Britten's music and led to the founding of the English Opera Group and the Aldeburgh Festival. The Britten-Pears Foundation website is the hub of information about Britten and Pears, and the work of the Foundation and the Britten Estate. It is also the portal to the comprehensive research resources of the Britten-Pears Library.

Latest News

Early Albert Herring recording released

Nimbus Records have restored a 1949 Albert Herring performance conducted by Britten and featuring eight members of the original cast.
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Volume 4 of Britten's selected letters published

The fourth volume of Letters from a Life, covering the years 1952-1957, is now available.
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Classic Britten and Pears films released on DVD

Decca has released four historic Britten and Pears films from the BBC archives: Peter Grimes, Billy Budd, Idomeneo and Winterreise.
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Britten Thematic Catalogue beta version now online

We are working on an online thematic catalogue of all Britten's works. The beta version is now available, containing the first 100 works from Britten's juvenilia and a test record for Billy Budd.
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Forthcoming Performances

21st August 2008: Billy Budd (revised 2-Act version)

Santa Fe Opera

24th August 2008: Five Flower Songs

Sine Nomine International Touring Choir

25th August 2008: Four Sea Interludes

Nationaal Jeugd Orkest Summer Academy

26th August 2008: Sinfonietta

Presteigne Festival Orchestra

27th August 2008: Four Sea Interludes

Nationaal Jeugd Orkest Summer Academy

28th August 2008: Four Sea Interludes

Philharmonisches Orchester Trier

30th August 2008: Violin Concerto

County Youth Orchestra

Virtual tour of The Red House Virtual tour of The Red HouseTake a virtual tour of Britten's and Pears's home at the Red House, Aldeburgh
New on the site: Projects Portland Foreshore (1955), by John Piper An exciting range of projects currently underway at the Britten-Pears Library
Featured work: The Turn of the Screw Image from the Turn of the Screw Discover more about Britten's haunting masterpiece of chamber opera
Gallery Portland Foreshore (1955), by John Piper Current exhibitions at the Britten-Pears Library

Research Resources:

Discover more about the Britten-Pears Library collections, search our catalogues and databases and follow links to sites of related interest.