BRITTEN BIRTHDAY

Benjamin Britten would have turned 107 today, which has me going down a memory lane rabbit hole of performances of his music.

I was first drawn to Britten’s music partly because of the lifelong romantic partnership that inspired him to write all of this incredible music for the tenor voice. As a music student in the mid-90’s, it was refreshing to read about a gay love story with a happy ending that left a legacy of incredible music in its wake. It was a welcome change to see gay men represented in history as happy and productive artists with a strong community around them, as opposed to depressing representations of lonely gay men who died tragic deaths after living lives in the shadows, tortured by the simple nature of their identity.

The idea that love between two men could produce such incredible beauty still inspires me to this day, and I feel so privileged to be able to sing Britten’s music as much as I do. It’s a testament to me about how much representation matters, and how art combined with living openly can change lives for the better...save lives, even.

The above is a 2018 performance of one of Britten’s most special pieces for the tenor voice, his Serenade for tenor, horn and strings with A Far Cry and Hazel Dean Davis at NEC’s Jordan Hall in Boston. Missing these incredible musical friends so much, and so grateful for the wonderful memories of this special concert. ❤️

Happy birthday Mr. Britten, wherever you are now. Thank you for changing my life for the better.