was a British classical music composer, pianist and conductor. He was a central figure in twentieth-century British music, composing operas, a variety of vocal music, orchestral and chamber works. His best-known works include Peter Grimes (1945), War Requiem (1962) and the orchestral showpiece The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (1945).
Britten was born in Suffolk to a dentist family and showed an interest in music from an early age. He studied at the Royal College of Music in London and privately with composer Frank Bridge. Britten made his public debut with his a cappella choral piece, A Boy Was Born, in 1934. After the premiere of "Peter Grimes" in 1945, Britten was known internationally. Over the next 28 years, the composer created over 14 operas and established himself as one of the major opera creators of the twentieth century.
Britten composed everything from orchestral to choral, vocal solo, chamber, instrumental and film music. He was very interested in works for children and non-professional performers, such as the opera "Noye's Fludde", "Missa Brevis" and the collection of songs "Friday Afternoons". Britten often composed for a specific artist. His most frequent and important muse was his professional partner, the tenor Peter Pears; others: Kathleen Ferrier, Jennifer Vyvyan, Janet Baker, Dennis Brain, Julian Bream, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Mstislav Rostropovich. Britten was a brilliant pianist and conductor, performing many of his works in concert and in the recording studio. He also performed and recorded works by other composers: Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, Mozart's symphonies, and Schubert's and Schumann's song cycles.
