91Èȱ¬

Benjamin Britten was one of the most influential British composers of the 20th century, with celebrated works such as 'Peter Grimes', 'Friday Afternoons' or 'A Simple Symphony'. Music infused his very first moments in life and he started to develop his musical instincts from a very early age. Many of his future masterpieces can be traced back to the inspiration of his youth. This week, Donald Macleod explores these crucial early years in Britten's creative story, from his birth under the star of St Cecilia to his departure for America at 25 years old.

A Viennese trip, a personal loss, and a new career in film where he'll make an important friend... In this fourth episode, we follow a passionate and political Britten in his early twenties.

Mont Juic (co-composed with Lennox Berkeley)
4th mvt, Allegro molto
English Chamber Orchestra
Steuart Bedford, conductor

Friday Afternoons (excerpts)
The St Catharine’s Girls’ Choir, Cambridge
Edward Wickham, director and piano

Suite for Violin and Piano, Op 6
III. Lullaby
IV. Waltz
Isabelle Faust, violin
Alexander Melnikov, piano

Train Sequence, from 'The King's Stamp'
Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
Martyn Brabbins, conductor

Percussion Sequence, from 'Night Mail' (text by W.H. Auden)
Simon Russell Beale, narrator
Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
Martyn Brabbins, conductor

Love Music, from 'Love from a Stranger'
91Èȱ¬ Symphony Orchestra
Jac van Steen, conductor

Russian Funeral [or War and death, an impression for brass orchestra]
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle, conductor

Soirées musicales, Op 9
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Richard Bonynge, conductor

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Julien Rosa
A 91Èȱ¬ Audio Wales & West production for 91Èȱ¬ Radio 3