Britten’s Children

Part of Britten 50 Years On, celebrating Benjamin Britten in collaboration with The Baroque Collective

Post-film Q&A with director John Bridcut, hosted by David Pickard

Britten’s music for and about children: how the composer’s affinity with boys coloured his music, and how his favourite theme of lost innocence tied in with his own childhood. A book of the same title was published by Faber & Faber in June 2006.

The film features the last interview given by the actor David Hemmings, discussing his childhood role of Miles in The Turn of the Screw. Another seminal interview was with Wulff Scherchen (aka John Woolford), who for the first time describes the passionate relationship he had with Britten in his teens. This relationship is documented more fully in the book.

Specially-filmed performances by the choristers of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, conducted by Stephen Darlington, with Victoria Davies (harp); the Britten-Pears Orchestra, conducted by Paul Kildea, with Louisa Duggan (harp); Philip Langridge (tenor) and David Owen Norris (piano), with Nicholas Daly (alto); Ronan Magill (piano); Oldham Boys’ Choir, conducted by Eileen Bentley; Salisbury Music Partnership, conducted by David Halls; Oxford Youth Percussion Ensemble, conducted by Sue Lawrence.

WINNER OF ROYAL PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY CREATIVE COMMUNICATION AWARD 2005