{"product_id":"knowing-britten-9780957167223","title":"Knowing Britten","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKnowing Britten\u003c\/i\u003e is a vivid and insightful account of Steuart Bedford's long association with both Britten the man and his music - 2021 Book of the Year -Presto Music\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe conductor and pianist Steuart Bedford (1939-2021) could not remember a time when he did not know Benjamin Britten.   His mother, Lesley Duff, sang with the English Opera Group in the premieres of \u003ci\u003eThe Rape of Lucretia and Albert Herrring\u003c\/i\u003e in the late 1940s, and the family was closely involved with Britten and Pears for many years. Following his music studies and time on the music staff at Glyndebourne, Bedford joined the English Opera Group, gradually becoming Britten's trusted surrogate conductor.  As Britten's health began to fail, he took on responsibility for the premiere performances of Britten's final opera, \u003ci\u003eDeath in Venice, \u003c\/i\u003eincluding its US premiere at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, and the dramatic cantata \u003ci\u003e Phaedra\u003c\/i\u003e among others.","brand":"Steuart Bedford","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48280372445435,"sku":"9780957167223","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/3917\/9771\/files\/9780957167223_d2fb4707-cc0f-497f-933e-72444097f8cf.jpg?v=1772483440","url":"https:\/\/indiepubs.com\/products\/knowing-britten-9780957167223","provider":"IndiePubs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}