Benjamin Britten News

In 1924 Benjamin Britten heard Frank Bridge's music for the first time and was 'knocked out'. In 2015, SongSalon presents 'B is for Britain', offering a look at the song output of these two notable Britons. We know you will feel the same!

Entering its seventh season in 2015-16, CONTACT!, the Philharmonic's new-music series, will extend its reach across New York City through a new partnership with National Sawdust (formerly Original Music Workshop), a new, non-profit, state-of-the-art music venue opening in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in October 2015.

Enjoy an old fashioned Irish holiday celebration when A Christmas from Dublin with the Three Irish Tenors comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center on Friday, December 4, 2015 at 8 pm. Tickets are $29-59.

The multi-platinum, JUNO Award-winning band The Tenors have been thrilling audiences around the world with their powerful voices and memorable melodies. Blending classical music and contemporary pop, the vocal supergroup has achieved international success, showcasing their undeniable charm and diverse vocal styles in their newest release, Under One Sky (June, 2015). The music of Clifton Murray, Victor Micallef, Remigio Pereira, and Fraser Walters is rich and soulful with powerful anthems, classic covers, and songs written and co-written by The Tenors themselves.

The New Amsterdam Singers, led by Music Director Clara Longstreth, will present a program titled The Mass, The Dance, The Feast: Celebrations from Bach to Britten, Friday, December 11, 2015 at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 13, 2015, at 4:00 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 122 East 88th Street.

Jaap van Zweden will return to the New York Philharmonic to conduct Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23, with Artist-in-Association Inon Barnatan as soloist; Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem; and Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. The performances take place tonight, October 29, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, October 30 at 2:00 p.m.; and Saturday, October 31 at 8:00 p.m. 

Magic, mischief and music collide to mesmerizing effect when Isango Ensemble's Off-Broadway premiere of A Midsummer Night's Dream: Iphupha lobusuku be-Ntwasahlobo comes to the stage at The New Victory Theater from October 30 - November 8. After a sold-out run of The Magic Flute: Impempe Yomlingo last season, Cape Town's acclaimed opera company returns to the New Vic for a limited engagement of their newest production with the generous support of official Presentation Partner South African Tourism.

Just in time for Halloween, Hub Opera Ensemble presents Benjamin Britten's opera The Turn of the Screw. Directed by Joe Marshner and musically directed by Andy Rosenfeld, The Turn of the Screw tells the story of a governess who arrives at the Bly House under mysterious circumstances and a strange set of instructions. She is instructed to take care of the two young children and as the opera progresses, discovers the children may be possessed and ghosts of former employees may still haunt the mansion.

The Columbia Festival of the Arts is pleased to announce its 2015 Fall Festival, featuring a diverse array of arts events centered around the Fall Festival's theme: British Invasion. The British Invasion Festival will be presented October 2nd through 4th, during which time twelve events will be offered in multiple venues throughout Columbia.

Third Eye Theatre Ensemble, a Chicago company which seeks to engage audiences with inspiring performances relevant to today's ever changing world, will be presenting contemporary [& in English] at Forte Framing & Gallery tonight, September 26th at 8pm. contemporary [& in English] is a night of singing featuring excerpts from Third Eye Theatre Ensemble's fall production, Sumeida's Song, by composer Mohammed Fairouz. Cast members and guest artists perform the music of Mohammed Fairouz, in addition to other contemporary composers, including Ricky Ian Gordon, Gwyneth Walker, William Bolcom, Lori Laitman, Jake Heggie, Dominic Argento, Benjamin Britten, and Alan Hovhaness. A wine reception follows the concert. There is a $10 suggested donation at the door. Forte Framing and Gallery is located at 2301 W. North Ave, Chicago, Il  60647.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City General Director and CEO Deborah Sandler today announced the four conductors for the 2015-2016 season in the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Gary Thor Wedow (pictured, left, Mozart's Don Giovanni), and David Charles Abell (Bizet's Carmen) will be returning to the Lyric Opera. Alexander Polianichko (Dvorak's Rusalka) and Christopher Allen (Donizetti's The Elixir of Love) will be making their Lyric Opera debut.

Jaap van Zweden will return to the New York Philharmonic to conduct Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23, with Artist-in-Association Inon Barnatan as soloist; Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem; and Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. The performances take place Thursday, October 29, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, October 30 at 2:00 p.m.; and Saturday, October 31 at 8:00 p.m. 

This enjoyable Sunday afternoon concert was entitled The Best of British, featuring the RCS Ensemble

Brooklyn Art Song Society launces into its sixth season with part one of Britannica, its ambitious six-concert survey of British song.

The UK premiere of MARTYR by Marius von Maybenburg will be directed by Ramin Gray at the Unicorn Theatre, now to October 10. Press Night tonight, September 17, 2015. Actors Touring Company teams with Unicorn to present von Mayenburg's study of religious radicalisation in the classroom.

The UK premiere of MARTYR by Marius von Maybenburg will be directed by Ramin Gray at the Unicorn Theatre, tonight, September 16, to October 10. Press Night September 17, 2015. Actors Touring Company teams with Unicorn to present von Mayenburg's study of religious radicalisation in the classroom.

Third Eye Theatre Ensemble, a Chicago company which seeks to engage audiences with inspiring performances relevant to today's ever changing world, will be presenting contemporary [& in English] at Forte Framing & Gallery on Saturday, September 26th at 8pm. contemporary [& in English] is a night of singing featuring excerpts from Third Eye Theatre Ensemble's fall production, Sumeida's Song, by composer Mohammed Fairouz. Cast members and guest artists perform the music of Mohammed Fairouz, in addition to other contemporary composers, including Ricky Ian Gordon, Gwyneth Walker, William Bolcom, Lori Laitman, Jake Heggie, Dominic Argento, Benjamin Britten, and Alan Hovhaness. A wine reception follows the concert. There is a $10 suggested donation at the door. Forte Framing and Gallery is located at 2301 W. North Ave, Chicago, Il  60647.

Chorus pro Musica (CpM), under the direction of Jamie Kirsch, commences its 2015-16 season at 8 p.m. on November 7 at First Church Cambridge with a program, With Strings Attached, that features choral works highlighting the special connection between stringed instruments and the human voice.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City General Director and CEO Deborah Sandler today announced the four conductors for the 2015-2016 season in the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Gary Thor Wedow (pictured, left, Mozart's Don Giovanni), and David Charles Abell (Bizet's Carmen) will be returning to the Lyric Opera. Alexander Polianichko (Dvorak's Rusalka) and Christopher Allen (Donizetti's The Elixir of Love) will be making their Lyric Opera debut.