Overview

At the end of the nineteenth century Britain was a country without an opera culture, and in the concert halls the Austro-Germanic symphonic repertory reigned supreme. In the following fifty years the art-music culture changed dramatically. Radio, the gramophone and the recording industry, government arts subsidies, Covent Garden, and a post-war resurgence in national and civic pride which contributed to the spread of music festivals, were the agents of change. Born in 1913, Benjamin Britten was well placed to take advantage of these market forces, which he did consistently and skilfully from the 1930s onwards. His relationships with Boosey & Hawkes, Decca, Covent Garden, the Aldeburgh Festival, the English Opera Group, and the Arts Council, had a huge influence on the music he wrote. This book explores the effect of these commercial and national institutions on the music of one of the foremost British composers of the twentieth century.

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9780198167150

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Reviews

`... likely to exercise a seminal influence upon our critical understanding of Britten.' Musical Times `What is so admirable about Kildea's work is that while his account is obviously intrinsic to a deeper understanding of Britten's creative context, his treatment - characterised both by its trenchancy and deftness - firmly engages with the music.' Musical Times `... a valuable social history that is distinguished not only by the acute observation and analysis it brings to bear on the institutionalisation and commodification of music in late-twentieth-century Britain but an essential sympathy for the art it is treating.' Musical Times `Selling Britten is a fascinating and vigorously written read' Musical Times `... frequently fascinating book.' Times Higher Education Supplement

Paul Kildea's Selling Britten offers a new approach to understanding the composer. It moves beyond musicological or even quasi-biographical analysis of the oeuvre to study the hard realities of markets and financial constraints. Ian Bostridge, Times Literary Supplement The book is an indispensable addition to the Britten bibliography. It is scrupulously annotated abd handsomely produced. s ... likely to exercise a seminal influence upon our critical understanding of Britten. Musical Times What is so admirable about Kildea's work is that while his account is obviously intrinsic to a deeper understanding of Britten's creative context, his treatment - characterised both by its trenchancy and deftness - firmly engages with the music. Musical Times ... a valuable social history that is distinguished not only by the acute observation and analysis it brings to bear on the institutionalisation and commodification of music in late-twentieth-century Britain but an essential sympathy for the art it is treating. Musical Times Selling Britten is a fascinating and vigorously written read. Musical Times ... frequently fascinating book. Times Higher Education Supplement

Author Information

Dr Kildea was and Undergraduate and Post-graduate student at the University of Melbourne, studying with Max Cooke (piano) and Malcolm Gillies (musicology). He was a recipient of a number of University prizes. Scholarships enabled him to study at Oxford with Cyril Ehrlich. He accepted positions with Opera Australia as its Young Artist Programme as conductor. Made his début with Janaçek's The Cunning Little Vixen. He combines his work for the Britten Estate and Aldeburgh Productions with a conducting career. He will conduct La Bohème in Melbourne this year.

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