Benjamin Britten: Notes from the Archive video series launched
Boosey & Hawkes launches its new video series created in collaboration with the Britten Pears Archive, based in the composer’s home town of Aldeburgh. The web documentary films, presented by the archive team and examining sources linked to the history of key Britten works, are released throughout 2026, the 50th year since the composer’s death.
In collaboration with the Britten Pears Archive, Boosey & Hawkes launches a new video series exploring the work and life of Benjamin Britten, one of the most important and widely performed British composers of the 20th century. Running throughout 2026, a year which marks 50 years since Britten’s death, the series titled Benjamin Britten: Notes from the Archive ventures behind the scenes in the archives of the composer at his former home, The Red House in Aldeburgh, diving deeper into iconic works, their history, and the social context that surrounds them.
Exploring composition manuscript drafts, annotated books and scripts, sketches, archive photographs and more, the videos are presented by the dedicated team of archivists who conserve the legacy of Benjamin Britten, bringing the history behind these iconic works to life. The series highlights the craftsmanship and versatility of Britten’s writing in every genre, from symphonic scores such as The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra and the Piano Concerto, through works for the stage including Peter Grimes and Noye's Fludde, to Britten’s vocal music, the song cycles of Winter Words and his Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, as well as cherished choral titles like A Ceremony of Carols.
The series opens with a spotlight on Lachrymae, Benjamin Britten’s imaginative response to music by John Dowland. Originally composed in 1948 for viola and piano and later arranged for viola and string orchestra towards the end of his life in 1976, the piece offers a window into Britten’s lifelong fascination with early music. In this episode, Red House Librarian Nicholas Clark guides viewers through Britten and Peter Pears’ shared interest in the music of Dowland, Britten’s formative relationship with his teacher Frank Bridge, and the lesser-known role of the viola in his musical language. The video also delves into the composition drafts held in the Britten Pears Archive, offering rare insights into the evolution of both versions of Lachrymae.
> View the video on the Boosey & Hawkes YouTube channel
The 50th anniversary of Britten’s death falls on 4 December 2026, marked by events in his home town of Aldeburgh and throughout the wider musical world. If you are planning concerts linked to the 50th anniversary, please let us know by contacting Boosey & Hawkes on [email protected].
> Britten at Boosey & Hawkes
> Britten Pears Archive
> Britten Pears Arts
> Further information on Work: Lachrymae