Britten

By David Matthews

Benjamin Britten (1913-76) was the most prolific and celebrated English composer of the mid-20th century. Britten shot to international fame with his operas performed by the English Opera Group in 1947.

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

‘A superb biography . . . tells general readers everything they could possibly need to know about the composer’s life and work.’
Clare Stevens, Classical Music

‘Matthews’s Britten is fluent, informative and . . . sympathetic to its subject. His comments on Britten’s music, which occur unobtrusively throughout the narrative, are richly informative.’
Alexander Waugh, Literary Review, July 2003

‘David Matthews's Britten is a lyrical appraisal of an often tormented existence.’
Norman Lebrecht, Evening Standard, 1 December 2003

‘David Matthews (...) is himself a composer. His book contains one revelation - the existence of a remarkable work (Two Pieces) for violin, viola and piano written when Britten was 16 - and is so well-balanced and so full of sympathetic but by no means uncritical insights that if I were asked to recommend an introduction to Britten to somebody who knew little or nothing about the man and his music, I would unhesitatingly urge this one.’                        

Michael Kennedy, Sunday Telegraph