Britten dedicated his Violin Concerto to his teacher, Henry Boys, who encouraged him to explore modern musical trends.
Composition History
The unique character of Britten's Violin Concerto was influenced by its premiere in New York, the threat of war in Europe, and the political climate of Republican Spain on the eve of the Civil War.
Recording & Production
The Violin Concerto was recorded in a studio in Antwerp, Belgium, while the Four Sea Interludes were recorded live in Brussels.
Composer Biography
Benjamin Britten, born in 1913, broke with the romantic, nationalist school of English composers like Elgar, Parry, and Vaughan Williams, making English music sound fresh and modern.
Composition History
Britten's opera Peter Grimes, set in his native Suffolk, was a turning point for post-war opera and for the composer himself after its successful premiere in June 1945.
Compositional Technique
The Four Sea Interludes are an orchestral suite Britten created from six orchestral interludes in his opera Peter Grimes, using suggestive orchestration to describe the sea's moods and the main character's emotions.
Performer Biography
Matthew Trusler, the violinist on this recording, plays a 1711 Stradivarius.
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