Benjamin Britten Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976) was an English composer, conductor and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British classical music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces. His best-known works include the opera "Peter Grimes" (1945), the "War Requiem" (1962) and the orchestral showpiece "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" (1945). Born in Suffolk, the son of a dentist, Britten showed talent from an early age. He studied at the Royal College of Music in London and privately with the composer
Violet (opera) November 2005 at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, directed by Tess Gibbs and conducted by Clive Timms. Scruton is better known as a writer and philosopher, and is largely self-taught as a composer. "Violet" is the second of Scruton's two operas – it was preceded by the one-act "The Minister" (1998). According to The Times' critic Hilary Finch, Scruton's first opera was influenced by Benjamin Britten, whereas according to a review by David Conway, "Violet" is influenced by Janáček, a composer Scruton is known to admire. The score includes a number of references to music of other