Carnegie Hall

Throughout the season, Carnegie Hall paid tribute to composer Benjamin Britten on the centenary of his birth as part of worldwide Britten 100 celebrations. Carnegie Hall began its tribute with two October concerts: tenor Ian Bostridge, countertenor Iestyn Davies, baritone Joshua Hopkins, and pianist Julius Drake performed Britten’s complete Canticles; and Bostridge, joined by French horn player Stewart Rose and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s conducted by Pablo Heras-Casado, presented the Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings. In November, the Endellion String Quartet played the composer’s String Quartet No. 1 and Three Divertimenti, and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus sang Britten’s music for young voices. On November 22—Britten’s actual 100th birthday—tenor Anthony Dean Griffey sang the title role in Peter Grimes. This opera in concert featured David Robertson conducting the St. Louis Symphony and Chorus. A December Discovery Day provided an in-depth look at the composer with a keynote talk by author Paul Kildea, a screening of the film Endgame, and a recital of Britten songs. Britten 100 concluded in April with Robert Spano conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, soprano Evelina Dobracheva, tenor Thomas Cooley, and baritone Stephen Powell in the composer’s stirring War Requiem.