Harrison Birtwistle | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Birtwistle in Turin, 2008 | |
| Born | 15 July 1934 Accrington, England |
| Died | 18 April 2022 (aged 87) Mere, Wiltshire, England |
| Alma mater | Royal Manchester College of Music |
| Era | Contemporary |
| Works | List of compositions |
| Spouse |
Sheila Duff
(m. 1958; died 2012) |
| Children | 3, including Adam and Silas |
Sir Harrison Birtwistle CH (15 July 1934 – 18 April 2022) was an English composer of contemporary classical music best known for his operas, often based on mythological subjects.[1][2] Among his many compositions, his better known works include The Triumph of Time (1972) and the operas The Mask of Orpheus (1986), Gawain (1991), and The Minotaur (2008). The last of these was ranked by music critics at The Guardian in 2019 as the third-best piece of the 21st century.[3] Even his compositions that were not written for the stage often showed a theatrical approach. A performance of his saxophone concerto Panic during the BBC's Last Night of the Proms caused "national notoriety".[4] He received many international awards and honorary degrees.
- ^ Cross 2012, "Introduction".
- ^ Allen, David (18 April 2022). "Harrison Birtwistle, Fiercely Modernist Composer, Dies at 87". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ Clements, Andrew; Maddocks, Fiona; Lewis, John; Molleson, Kate; Service, Tom; Jeal, Erica; Ashley, Tim (12 September 2019). "The best classical music works of the 21st century". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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