Benjamin Britten "A Failure" Documentary Part 2

Benjamin Britten "A Failure" Documentary Part 2

[@marksikkila8835]

it is obvious that whoever assembled this documentary didn't like Britten. The dislike is plain to see, and it is expressed in the weary, catty tone of one who is anxious to take down an idol. The narrator is one of many, many critics of composers who seem to scold these real musicians for not following a conventional career path, not doing the expected thing, thus revealing their jealousy.

[@davidmcvicar1250]

i know/knew Tom Sutcliffe. He knows a lot about failure. He should hang his head in shame that he ever made this film

[@adamastorBassBar]

+David McVicar What would one expect from a counter-tenor manque?

[@ScisMacGillicutty]

If it is Britten's music used in the background here, it seems to contradict everything Mr. Sutcliffe says of it: is the *opposite* of anemic, cramped, unsuccessful. I don't know what may have motivated Mr. Sutcliffe to make such bizarre statements, but as it have given me the opportunity to make acquaintance with Britten's work, I don't care. Mr. Sutcliffe, however, has certainly failed.

[@ginacecilia]

To portray Britten in this manner is a disgrace.

[@MrWoofti]

I played Curlew River to someone who knew no Britten at all, a young woman in her early 20s, and she was hypnotised & transfixed by the experience. These people somehow miss the point of the music, but I think this is a necessary production. The Cello Symphony.

[@FaDiezeMineur]

Imogen Holst would have hated to know that she was used in this stuff, she adored Britten. And I am surprised to see that John Amis agreed to contribute, he is rather a Britten fan.

[@TheRobertcrow]

amusing how often the rather petty commentary is completely destroyed by the amazing music it uses to make its point!

[@larryh175]

The documentary takes it as a given ,that Brittens inspiration dried up after his early operatic successes , the last beeing "Turn of the screw",and explores the reasons for this drying up of his creative powers.It would have been more interesting if they had devoted more time to arguing for this diminishing creative powers of the composer.Perhaps the limits of time made this impossible.Nevertheless,reaching Britten 100 aniversary,his reputation stands strong,specially his early operatic works.

[@AntPDC]

Agreed!

[@AntPDC]

Maybe it's case of being rejected by Ben, at a delicate age? I mean, it's not just the content, but the spiteful, rather girly bitch-slap tone employed here which grates ...

[@tedbenson7032]

Whoa! You misjudge. Tippet's music is fantastic! Why "either/or"?

[@larryh175]

Yes Billyk. , I have seen all 3 parts.Sutcliffe states clearly in part 1 (5:40) , that he wants to investigate the reasons for Brittens failure in his later career,and he only briefly touch upon what that failure is.I`m not in to the Britten discussion,so it would have been interesting for me to expand on the question of failure.More meat.

[@zosimos102]

this is complete nonsense. shame on the contributors/

[@troychipper4020]

I guess Robert Tear didn't like Britten much either- disappointed he appears in an unpleasant work like this biography.

[@mckavitt]

@Brother Richard: how did the young woman "miss the point of the music" being as she was "hypnotised & transfixed by the experience"? Logic?

[@mckavitt13]

Petty reading Auden's warning letter & outright nasty showing Dudley Moore's tasteless parody. But, again, thank heavens for democracy... which permits such left-footed films... inciting the viewer to make his or her own judgements.

[@rayhope8900]

Just read his early diaries where he denegrades Elgar, Rachmaninov,Holst Beethoven among others. What an arrogant egocentric narcissist with an unhealthy intrest in young boys. What’s to like? His music is drab cacaphonic and endlessly dull.

[@vitroz]

this presenter is so arrogant....what a disappointment