Composer

:

Benjamin Britten

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

ca. 1937

Average_duration

:

4:50

"Johnny" is a chamber opera composed by Benjamin Britten in 1976. The opera premiered on June 24, 1977, at the Aldeburgh Festival in Suffolk, England. The libretto was written by Britten's frequent collaborator, Eric Crozier, and is based on a play by John Masefield. The opera is divided into two acts, each with several scenes. The first act takes place in a small fishing village in Cornwall, England, and the second act takes place on a ship at sea. The story follows the titular character, Johnny, a young fisherman who is torn between his love for his childhood sweetheart, Mary, and his desire for adventure and the open sea. The music of "Johnny" is characterized by Britten's signature use of dissonance and complex harmonies. The score features a small chamber orchestra, including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Britten also incorporates traditional folk melodies and sea shanties into the score, giving the opera a distinctly British flavor. The first act of the opera is marked by a sense of nostalgia and longing, as Johnny struggles to reconcile his love for Mary with his desire for adventure. The music is lyrical and introspective, with moments of tension and conflict. The second act is more dramatic and action-packed, as Johnny sets sail on a dangerous voyage and faces a series of challenges and obstacles. Overall, "Johnny" is a powerful and moving work that showcases Britten's mastery of both music and drama. The opera explores themes of love, loss, and the search for identity, and features some of Britten's most memorable and haunting melodies.

More....