George Benjamin (composer) facts for kids

Sir George Benjamin (born January 31, 1960) is a famous English composer, conductor, pianist, and teacher. He has written many pieces of music, including operas and orchestral works. He is known for his modern and exciting musical style.

About George Benjamin

George Benjamin was born in London, England. He started learning piano at a young age. He wrote his first musical piece when he was just nine years old! He also studied with a famous French composer named Olivier Messiaen. Messiaen reportedly called Benjamin his favorite student. Later, Benjamin studied music at King's College, Cambridge.

Early Music and Performances

When Benjamin was still a student, his orchestral piece Ringed by the Flat Horizon was played at The Proms. This is a very famous music festival in London. This made him the youngest living composer at the time to have his music played there.

Two years later, another of his pieces, At First Light, was performed. His music has been played at many important festivals around the world. These include the Salzburg Festival and the opening of the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

A scene from a 2018 performance of Benjamin's opera Written on Skin by Opera Philadelphia.

Operas by Benjamin

George Benjamin has written four operas. An opera is a play where the story is told mostly through singing. All of his operas were written with a writer named Martin Crimp.

Their first opera was Into the Little Hill, which premiered in Paris in 2006. Their second opera, Written on Skin, was first performed in 2012. Benjamin himself conducted its first performance in the UK. Their third opera was Lessons in Love and Violence, which premiered in 2018. Their most recent opera, Picture a day like this, was first shown in 2023.

Benjamin as a Conductor

Besides composing, George Benjamin is also a talented conductor. A conductor leads an orchestra or opera. He first conducted an opera in 1999 in Brussels. He has led many new musical works by other composers.

He has also been involved in important music festivals. In 1993, he helped organize the first Meltdown music festival in London. In 2010, he was the Music Director for the Ojai Music Festival in California. He was also a composer-in-residence for the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. This means he worked closely with them. He will also be the composer-in-residence for the London Philharmonic Orchestra starting in 2025.

Teaching Music

For many years, Benjamin taught music composition. This is the art of creating new music. He taught at the Royal College of Music in London. He also taught at King's College London. Some of his students have become famous composers themselves.

Awards and Recognition

George Benjamin has received many important awards for his music. In 2019, he won the Golden Lion Award for his lifetime achievements in music. This award was given at the Venice Biennale, a big arts event.

Other awards include the Arnold Schönberg Prize in 2001 and the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize in 2023. In 2022, he received an Ivor Novello Award for his amazing collection of works. He also won the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in 2023.

His opera Written on Skin was highly praised. Critics at The Guardian newspaper called it one of the best operas of the 21st century. In 2024, his opera Picture a day like this was nominated for another Ivor Novello Award.

Benjamin is also an honorary member of several important music schools and societies. He was made a Commander of the CBE in 2010. He was also knighted in 2017, which means he can now be called "Sir George Benjamin."

Personal Life

Sir George Benjamin lives in northwest London. His partner is filmmaker Michael Waldman.

Works

Here are some of the musical works by Sir George Benjamin:

Opera

• Into the Little Hill (2006): a short opera
• Written on Skin (2009–2012): a full-length opera
• Lessons in Love and Violence (2015–2017): another opera
• Picture a day like this (2023): his most recent opera

Orchestral Music

These are pieces written for a large group of musicians called an orchestra.

• Ringed by the Flat Horizon (1979–1980)
• A Mind of Winter (1981) for a singer and orchestra
• Sudden Time (1989–1993)
• Three Inventions (1993–1995) for a smaller orchestra
• Sometime Voices (1996) for a singer, choir, and orchestra
• Palimpsests (2000–2002)
• Dance Figures (2004): nine dance-like pieces
• Duet for piano and orchestra (2008)
• Dream of the Song (2014–2015) for singers and orchestra
• Concerto for Orchestra (2021)

Ensemble Music

These pieces are for a smaller group of musicians than an orchestra.

• Octet for 8 players (1978)
• At First Light for 14 players (1982)
• Antara for 16 players and electronics (1987)
• Upon Silence (1990) for a singer and string instruments
• Olicantus for 15 players (2002)

Chamber and Instrumental Music

These are pieces for a few instruments or even just one.

• Piano Sonata (1977–1978)
• Flight for solo flute (1979)
• Three Studies for piano (1982–1985)
• Viola, Viola for two violas (1997)
• Shadowlines (2001): six short piano pieces
• Three Miniatures for solo violin (2001–2002)
• Piano Figures (2004): ten short pieces for piano

See also

In Spanish: George Benjamin para niños