Product Description

Benjamin Britten was a most reluctant public speaker. Yet his contributions were without doubt a major factor in the transformation during his lifetime of the structure of the art-music industry. This book, by bringing together all his published articles, unpublished speeches, drafts, and transcriptions of numerous radio interviews, explores the paradox of a reluctant yet influential cultural commentator, artist, and humanist. Whether talking about his own music, about the role of the artist in society, about music criticism, or wading into a debate on soviet ideology at the height of the cold war, Britten always gave a performance which reinforced the notion of a private man who nonetheless saw the importance of public disclosure.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1045178 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 468 pages

Review
... indispensable collection of writings and transcripts. Ian Bostridge, Times Literary Supplement

This is a book that needed to be published and Britten fans will be delighted that it has been done so well. (Alexander Waugh, Literary Review )

About the Author
Paul Kildea was born in Australia and studied at Melbourne and Oxford Universities, being awarded a doctorate from the latter in 1996. He has recently been appointed Director of the Britten-Pears Orchestra. In 1999 he was appointed by the Britten Estate to the position of Head of Music, Aldeburgh Productions.