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We have been notified of the death last night, in Bath, of the glorious bass-baritone John Shirley-Quirk. John was 83 and still teaching at Peabody in Baltimore and at Bath Spa University in England. A colleague there writes: 'He was very generous to students and they appreciated his wry sense of humour, to say nothing of his vast and remarkable performing experience.' ... English baritone John Shirley-Quirk enjoyed singing and playing the violin as a child, but his true vocal talent did not become apparent until he was already studying chemistry and physics at the University of Liverpool. After several...

Review: A shipshape 'Billy Budd' caps Britten 100/LA Mark Swed Los Angeles Times February 24, 2014 ‘Billy Budd’s’ return to L.A. is musically powerful, but it is not about sex Jim Farber Los Angeles Daily News February 24, 2014 (subscription required) 'Billy Budd' sails at L.A. Opera Timothy Mangan Orange County Register February 23, 2014 Wikipedia article on the operaComplete video of 1966 BBC televison performance

Benjamin Britten was born 100 years ago on 22 November and as events take place around the world to celebrate the work of one of Britain's greatest composers, two people who knew both the man and the musical genius share their recollections. "I was never frightened of Ben but I had great respect for him. He was a very easy person to get on with but you were careful about what you said about works he either liked or disliked, or his own works. You chose your words carefully!" In a rare interview with BBC Radio 3's Tom Service, 87-year-old...

LA Opera continues its celebration of composer Benjamin Britten's centenary with the delightful comic opera Albert Herring. It's spring in a bucolic English country village; time for the formidable Lady Billows and her committee to choose a May Queen from the lovely local maidens. But the only virgin to be found is Albert Herring, a meek mama's boy who reluctantly becomes Loxford's first May King. Albert Herring returns to LA Opera's repertoire for the first time in two decades.

5:00PM Eastern / 4:00PM Central / 3:00PM Mountain / 2:00PM Pacific THE TURN OF THE SCREW BY BENJAMIN BRITTENSunday, March 20 at 2:00 PM     Join Classical KUSC Sunday afternoon at 2:00 for LA Opera On Air as we bring you a performance of Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw, live from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.  KUSC's Duff Murphy and Kimberlea Daggy are your hosts.

There was a new flyer on the door of our church the other day advertising a play (concert?) called 'War Requiem.' I asked our Pastor if he knew anything about the advetisement and he said no, so I told him I'd research it. I did some research with google, but I dont see any truly revealing information about this musical work, other than it was written by Benjamin Britten for a church in England that was being rebuilt after the war. I found a couple of references to it possibly being used to protest the Vietnam War. The church I...