From 12-24 April the Department of Music is hosting a festival to celebrate the centennial birthday of the renowned English composer Benjamin Britten. Britten was a key figure in twentieth-century British classical music, composing music for opera, film scores and more.
The festival, directed by Tessa Petersen and Judy Bellingham, comes courtesy of the Britten100 Festival organisation in the UK, which has provided funding to the University. The organisation has confirmed that this will be the southernmost Britten100 festival in the world.
There are a great many events taking place over the two weeks of the festival, including illustrated lectures from Professor of Irish Studies Peter Kuch, Professor of Scottish Studies Liam McIlvanney, and Professor of Music John Drummond, as well as lunchtime concerts featuring chamber music by Britten and a performance of Alan Bennett’s play The Habit Of Art, in which a central scene depicts a meeting between Britten and his colleague and friend, poet W.H. Auden.
Admission to most events is $5 for students, with booking essential for the events on Friday 12, Tuesday 16, Friday 19 and Sunday 21 April. A festival programme can be found at otago.ac.nz/music, and tickets to each event can be purchased at the Music department office in Sale/Black House, corner of Leith and St David Streets. Season tickets to all events are also available from the Music department office for $60.
Hail Brittennia
