Britten in America

Synopsis

Benjamin Britten was the most famous English opera composer of the 20th century, but ironically his first opera, Paul Bunyan, had an American theme and premiered at Columbia University in New York City on today's date in 1941.

Britten lived in America from 1939 to 1942. When his American publisher suggested he write something that could be performed by any high school, his good friend, British poet W.H. Auden fashioned a libretto around the tall tales of the mythical American folk hero, the giant logger Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe.

The New York Times review of the premiere of Paul Bunyan was a mixture of praise and pans. “Mr. Britten is a very clever young man,” wrote Olin Downes, but firmly suggested the young composer was capable of much better things.

His next opera, Peter Grimes, would receive its world premiere in London, in 1945, by which time Britten was back in England for good, but like Paul Bunyan had an American connection: it was originally commissioned for $1000 by the Koussevitsky Foundation of Boston, and so received its American premiere at the Berkshire Music Festival in 1946 under the baton of Leonard Bernstein.

Music Played in Today's Program

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): Paul Bunyan Overture; English Chamber Orchestra; Philip Brunelle, conductor; Virgin 45093

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): “Sea Interludes” from Peter Grimes; BBC Symphony; Andrew Davis, conductor; Teldec 73126

On This Day

Births

• 1819 - Polish composer Stanislaw Moniuszko, in Ubiel, province of Minsk, Russia

• 1869 - German composer and conductor Hans Pfitzner, in Moscow, of German parents (Julian date: April 23)

Premieres

• 1726 - Handel: opera Alessandro, in London at King’s Theater in the Haymarket, with the Italian soprano Faustina Bordini marking her London debut in a work by Handel (Gregorian date: May 16)

• 1917 - Debussy: Violin Sonata, in Paris, by violinist Gaston Poulet with the composer at the piano (his last public appearance)

• 1926 - Copland: Two Pieces (Nocturne and Ukelele Serenade), in Paris by violinist Samuel Dushkin with the composer at the piano

• 1930 - Milhaud: opera Christophe Colomb (Christopher Columbus), at the Berlin State Opera

• 1941 - Britten: Paul Bunyan (text by W.H. Auden) at Columbia University in New York City

• 1945 - Barber: I Hear an Army, Monks and Raisins, Nocturne, Sure On This Shining Night, during a CBS radio broadcast, with mezzo Jennie Tourel and the CBS Symphony, composer conducting

• 1946 - Douglas Moore: Symphony in A, in Paris

• 1977 - George Crumb: oratorio Star Child, by the New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez conducting

• 1982 - Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Symphony No. 1, at Alice Tully Hall in New York, by the American Composers Orchestra, Gunther Schuller conducting; This work won the Pulitzer Prize in 1983

• 1987 - John Williams: A Hymn to New England, by the Boston Pops conducted by the composer (recorded by the Pops and Keith Lockhardt)

• 1991 - Joan Tower: Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 3 (dedicated to Frances Richard of ASCAP), at Carnegie Hall, by members of the Empire Brass and the New York Philharmonic, Zubin Mehta conducting

• 2000 - Christopher Rouse: Rapture for orchestra, by the Pittsburgh Symphony, Mariss Jansons conducting

• 2001 - Christopher Rouse: Rapturedux cello ensemble, by the Royal Northern College of Music Cellists in Manchester (U.K.)

Others

• 1891 - Carnegie Hall opens in New York City with a concert that included Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3 conducted by Walter Damrosch, and Tchaikovsky’s Marche Solennelle (Coronation March) conducted by its composer.