The Hidden Heart: A Life of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears: Teresa Griffiths, Jake Martin: Movies & TV

Mar17

The Hidden Heart: A Life of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears: Teresa Griffiths, Jake Martin: Movies & TV

Posted by admin | on 17 March, 02:25 AM

Product Description
This fascinating documentary tells the story of leading British composer Benjamin Britten, focusing on his passionate relationship both to music and to his lifelong partner Peter Pears.

DVD Tracklist
1. Love Letters
2. Britten & Pears: Art and Life:- Part 1: Peter Grimes
3. Britten in America:- Part 1: Peter Grimes
4. Returning to Britain - "Peter Grimes"
5. 7 June 1945: The Premiere of Peter Grimes:- Part 1: Peter Grimes
6. A Legendary Premiere:- Part 1: Peter Grimes
7. Introduction:- Part II: War Requiem
8. Britten and Critics:- Part II: War Requiem
9. War Requiem & Peter Pears:- Part II: War Requiem
10. Galina Vishnevskaya and the War Requiem premiere:- Part II: War Requiem
11. Premiere at Coventry Cathedral:- Part II: War Requiem
12. Immediate and lasting impact:- Part II: War Requiem
13. Introduction:- Part III: Death in Venice
14. Britten’s most personal statement:- Part III: Death in Venice
15. Confronting Demons:- Part III: Death in Venice
16. Heart surgery and the aftermath:- Part III: Death in Venice
17. The last weeks:- Part III: Death in Venice
18. A final love letter:- Part III: Death in Venice

Misleading title, but great documentary,

By Kevin Carnahan (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

My wife and I have a special fondness for the works of composer Benjamin Britten and the career of tenor Peter Pears. We had thought this documentary would focus primarily on the great love and working relationship of these amazing gay men, and while it certainly remembers to go there on occasion (mainly at the beginning and at the end), REALLY it’s a documentary about Britten creating three of his greatest works (and by extension, Peter Pears’ role in these three works as the featured singer): “Peter Grimes,” the “War Requiem,” and “Death in Venice.” Pears’ importance as the primary voice of Britten’s music and the great love of Britten’s life is mentioned, but it is not really the focus of the film.

I would highly recommend this documentary for any serious fan of Britten’s music, and of English music history. But it’s only peripherally about their great partnership, their great marriage. Perhaps a fully-fleshed, respectful biographical film of Britten’s life will come along at some point.Search Amazon.com: The Hidden Heart: A Life of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears: Teresa Griffiths, Jake Martin: Movies & TV from AmAzon

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