The Dark Tower – Who Is Benjamin Britten?

In celebration of the Benjamin Britten centenary, YMT bring their production of The Dark Tower to the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith. 

The Dark Tower is a response to the 1946 radio play written by Ulster poet Louis MacNiece and scored by Benjamin Britten. Ahead of these performances we ask the question – exactly who was Benjamin Britten?

• Benjamin Britten was an English composer, conductor and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British classical music, producing a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces.
• He started piano lessons when he was seven years old, and three years later began to play the viola.
• He was one of the last composers brought up on exclusively live music as his father refused to have a gramophone or, later, a radio in the house.
• Britten was a greatly sought-after conductor and pianist despite being reluctant and nervous at them both!
• Many singers and musicians admired Britten's conducting, and David Webster even offered him the musical directorship of the Covent Garden Opera in 1952. Unfortunately he declined as he wasn’t confident enough in his ability – crazy!

The Dark Tower comes to Riverside Studios Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August at 5pm and 8pm, matinee on Monday 26 August 1pm.

Book here: www.riversidestudios.co.uk
Box Office: 02082371111