Benjamin Britten: Notes from the Archive - 2. Winter Words

Episode 2: Winter Words

Written in 1953 between Benjamin Britten’s operas ‘Gloriana’ and ‘The Turn of the Screw’, ‘Winter Words’ op. 52 is a collection of songs for high voice and piano that sets texts by Thomas Hardy. This period in Britten’s life also saw the start of a new creative partnership and friendship with his soon-to-be Musical Assistant, Imogen Holst. In this episode of "Notes from the Archive", Red House Archivist Judith Ratcliffe traces the work’s origins from the volume of Thomas Hardy verse gifted to Britten by Imogen Holst, through composition drafts and correspondence from the time, to the two additional songs ultimately rejected from the final cycle.

In a collaboration between BrittenPearsArts and Boosey & Hawkes, the series “Benjamin Britten: Notes from the Archive” explores the work and life of Benjamin Britten, one of the most important and widely performed British composers of the 20th century. Released throughout 2026, a year which marks 50 years since Britten’s death, the series 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.

Episode 1: Lachrymae
> WATCH NOW

Episode 3: War Requiem
> Released in April

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