Seattle Opera Discussion: Peter Kazaras Openly Discusses Britten
In a thought-provoking discussion on the Seattle Opera Podcast, stage director, tenor, and MVP at the Seattle Opera, Peter Kazaras, delves into the operas of Benjamin Britten and their significant influence in the world of classical music. Accompanied by Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean, Kazaras offers a unique perspective on Britten's compositions, sharing personal anecdotes from his career as a champion of Britten's operas.
The podcast conversation revolves around the operas of Benjamin Britten and the ways in which his personal experiences influenced his compositions. Kazaras highlights Britten's self-acceptance as a gay man during a time when such openness was unusual, and how this perspective deeply impacted his operas.
Britten's operas often centre on characters who exist on the margins, mirroring his own navigation of identity within a sometimes hostile society. This empathetic treatment of marginalized characters, coupled with the psychological depth found in works like Peter Grimes, Billy Budd, and Death in Venice, is a testament to Britten's insights into societal alienation and inner conflict.
Kazaras emphasizes that Britten's openness about his sexuality is reflected in the compassion and subtlety with which he approached themes of isolation, forbidden desire, and social intolerance in his operas. This approach makes them resonate as much with personal truth as with broader human experience.
The discussion includes an analysis of how Britten's personal experiences are reflected in his operas, such as The Turn of the Screw. The entire discussion between Peter Kazaras and Jonathan Dean about Benjamin Britten's operas, including The Turn of the Screw, can be heard on the Seattle Opera Podcast.
This podcast is a valuable resource for those interested in learning more about the life and work of Benjamin Britten and his operas. It offers a unique perspective on the operas of Benjamin Britten, as shared by a dedicated champion of his work. For anyone captivated by the operas of Benjamin Britten and the impact of personal experiences on artistic expression, the Seattle Opera Podcast is a must-listen.
In light of the discussion, the operas of Benjamin Britten, particularly those such as The Turn of the Screw, provide a blend of entertainment and insight into deeper societal issues, like isolation, forbidden desire, and intolerance, through their music. The empathetic portrayal of marginalized characters in Britten's works, informed by his personal experiences, offers a powerful connection between personal truth and broader human experiences in music.
