AllMovie

As helmed by Teresa Griffiths, this biographical documentary profiles composer-pianist Benjamin Britten (1913-76). Still widely regarded as one of the most astonishing musical talents in British history, Britten drew many a comparison to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; he enjoyed his most prolific relationship, on both professional/creative and personal/romantic levels, with vocalist Peter Pears, for whom Britten created many of the central roles in his operas. Griffiths' film explores three of Britten's foremost works, Peter Grimes, Death in Venice, and War Requiem, while touching on the professional and personal nuances of the men's relationship. The program incorporates both newly shot and archival footage of the said works.