A FOURTH CHOIR PRODUCTION
My Beloved ManA Concert of words and music celebrating Benjamin Britten and Peter PearsThe Fourth Choir, London’s LGBTQ+ classical choir, puts the love that Britten and Pears had for each other during their 39-year relationship at the heart of this concert.
Using the letters they wrote to each other, read by Radio 3’s Petroc Trelawny and Classic FM's Zeb Soanes, Britten and Pears are able to tell their story in their own words - falling in love, living together illegally as a same-sex couple, exile in America, the hardships and separations of the War, their international success and the challenges of Britten’s failing health in his final years. The Fourth Choir illustrates their story with a cappella choral music, carefully selected by conductor Nicholas Chalmers. The concert includes pieces, not only by Britten and his friends and contemporaries, including Imogen Holst, Tippett and Samuel Barber, but also by composers from earlier centuries that Britten loved and was influenced by, such as Purcell, Monteverdi and Pérotin, giving a 360-degree portrait of the man, his music - and his Beloved Man, Peter Pears. The Fourth Choir first performed My Beloved Man in August this year at Snape Maltings, the concert hall that Britten and Pears built together, and were overwhelmed by the audience response, not only at the concert but afterwards on social media. |
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Audience Reactions
"Oh my word, that was one of the most precious, sensitive, beautiful performances I’ve ever had the privilege to go to. Tears, smiles, sublime music and the most wonderful selection of letters, passionately and respectfully delivered. "It was terrific! Let’s hope it has a future in other venues. It deserves a wider audience." Simon S "I’ve never known an entire choir to need to come back to take a second curtain call and I’ve been going regularly to Snape for nearly 40 years! So well deserved.” Alan F |
"Brilliant 'My Beloved Man' concert this evening @ the Maltings. Nicholas Chalmers, Séamus Rea, Zeb Soanes, Petroc Trelawny & the amazing Fourth Choir all brought Britten & Pears to life" “A lovely sequence of readings and music - funny, poignant and full of love.” Ruth "Possibly the best concert I have ever been to ... I was particularly emotional during the gorgeous Dido and Aneas arrangement after the talk of chronic illness, struck a chord. The whole thing was utterly majestic.” Luca |
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