George Benjamin

Short bio George Benjamin

Birthday: 1960 in London, England

Active: 1980s - 2010s

Genre: Classical

Period: Contemporary

Full biography George Benjamin

George Benjamin is an English composer of contemporary classical music and also a conductor ). He was born on January 31, 1960, and began composing at a very young age. George is known for his works which include operas, orchestral music, chamber music, and solo pieces.

His focus on contemporary classical music has resulted in much recognition and success for him. He has been awarded several honors including a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2010 and the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society gold medal in 2021.

George Benjamin's works have been performed and premiered by some of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Some of his notable works include "Written on Skin," which premiered at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence in 2012, "Dream of a Song," which premiered in 2015, and "Lessons in Love and Violence," which premiered in 2018.

In addition to his composing career, George Benjamin is also a highly regarded conductor and has worked with many renowned orchestras and ensembles around the world. His expertise lies especially in the interpretation of contemporary classical music, where he has gained a reputation as a leading expert in the field.

Overall, George Benjamin's contributions to the world of contemporary classical music have been immense, and his works continue to be celebrated and performed today.

Compositions featuring George Benjamin

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Lessons in Love and Violence, opera	84:49 min	Opera	2018
2	Duet, for piano & orchestra	12:05 min	Concerto	2008
3	Into the Little Hill, opera	35:51 min	Opera	2006
4	Dance Figures, for orchestra	16:01 min	Orchestral	2004
5	Olicantus for chamber orchestra	3:27 min	Orchestral	2002
6	Shadowlines, 6 canonic preludes for piano	14:38 min	Keyboard	2001
7	Shadowlines, 6 canonic preludes for piano	16:10 min	Keyboard	2001
8	Miniatures (3), for violin	8:39 min	Chamber Music	2001
9	Viola, Viola, for 2 violas	10:34 min	Chamber Music	1997
10	Sometime Voices, for solo voice, chorus & orchestra	10:09 min	Vocal Music	1996
11	Three Inventions for chamber orchestra	16:59 min	Orchestral	1993
12	Upon Silence for mezzo-soprano and Seven strings	10:28 min	Vocal Music	1991
13	Upon Silence, for mezzo-soprano and Five Viols	11:06 min	Vocal Music	1990
14	Sudden Time	15:13 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	1989
15	At First Light, for orchestra	19:30 min	Orchestral	1982
16	Studies (3) for solo piano	21:39 min	Keyboard	1982
17	Ringed by the flat Horizon for orchestra	19:49 min	Orchestral	1980
18	A Mind of Winter for soprano & chamber orchestra	9:14 min	Vocal Music	1980
19	Octet	11:07 min	Chamber Music	1979
20	Piano Sonata	22:26 min	Keyboard	1977
21	Two or four, for piano	0:57 min	Keyboard	-
22	Two or four, for piano, 4 hands	1:06 min	Keyboard	-
23	'Twas in the Year that King Uzziah Died, for tenor, chorus & organ	6:51 min	Choral	-
24	Written on Skin, opera in 3 parts	90:29 min	Opera	-
25	Panorama	2:27 min	Electronic/Computer Music	-
26	Palimpsests for orchestra	19:41 min	Orchestral	-
27	Meditation on Haydn's Name, for piano	3:44 min	Keyboard	-
28	Flight, for flute	9:03 min	Chamber Music	-
29	Dream of the Song, for countertenor, chorus & orchestra	19:34 min	Vocal Music	-
30	Antara for orchestra	19:37 min	Orchestral	-
31	Altitude, for brass ensemble	8:42 min	Chamber Music	-

Albums featuring George Benjamin

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Wolfgang Rihm, Ensemble Modern, Sir George Benjamin – Jagden und Formen (Zustand 2008)(CD, )	2022	Ensemble Modern Medien
2	George Benjamin, Martin Crimp, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra – Lessons In Love And Violence(2×CD, Album, Box Set, )	2019	Nimbus Records
3	Dowland, Benjamin, Sit Fast – Seven Tears Upon Silence(CD, )	2017	Evidence (7)
4	George Benjamin, Hila Plitmann, Susan Bickley, London Sinfonietta, Bejun Mehta, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Nederlands Kamerkoor, Michael Cox (3) – Into the Little Hill; Dream of the Song; Flight(CD, Album)	2017	Nimbus Records
5	Nare Karoyan - Leoš Janáček / Federico Mompou / George Benjamin / Robert Schumann – Shadowlines(CD, Album, Stereo)	2016	Quartziade
6	Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, George Benjamin, Magnus Lindberg, Tan Dun, David Robertson (5), Daniel Harding, Richard Rijnvos – Horizon 7(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Stereo)	2016	RCO Live
7	György Ligeti, Tristan Murail, George Benjamin – Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks – Musica Viva 22 : Lontano / Le Désenchantement Du Monde / Palimpsests(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Stereo)	2016	Neos
8	Dahae Boo, Stefano Gervasoni, Aurélio Edler-Copes, George Benjamin, Naoki Sakata, Jérôme Combier, Florent C. Darras – D.A.I. Répertoire Contemporain & Création Vol.2(CD, Album, Stereo)	2015	CNSMDP
9	Benjamin · Berio · Brahms · Knussen · Lieberson - Benjamin Hochman – Variations(CD, )	2015	Avie Records
10	George Benjamin, Martin Crimp, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Barbara Hannigan, Bejun Mehta, Christopher Purves, Rebecca Jo Loeb, Allan Clayton, Mahler Chamber Orchestra – Written On Skin / Duet(2×CD, Album)	2013	Nimbus Records
11	George Benjamin, Martin Crimp - Christopher Purves, Barbara Hannigan, Bejun Mehta, Victoria Simmonds, Allan Clayton, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, George Benjamin, Katie Mitchell – Written On Skin	2013	Opus Arte
12	George King - Magnus Lindberg, Philip Cashian, George Benjamin – Jubilees(CD, Album)	2013	Odradek Records
13	Hsin-Yun Huang, Benjamin, Mackey, Ruders, Carter, Chen – Viola Viola(CD, )	2012	Bridge Records (4)
14	Olivier Messiaen, Paul Dukas, Marc-André Dalbavie, Rob Zuidam, George Benjamin, Geert van Keulen, Ingo Metzmacher, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra – Horizon 2(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Stereo, Album)	2009	RCO Live
15	Into The Little Hill(CD, Album)	2008	Nimbus Records
16	London Sinfonietta, George Benjamin, Rolf Hind, Nicolas Hodges – Snapshots: Fiftieth Birthday Tributes For Oliver Knussen(CD, Album)	2004	London Sinfonietta Label
17	Turnage, Rihm, George Benjamin – Etudes & Elegies / Canzona Per Sonare / Cuts And Dissolves / Olicantus(CD, Album)	2004	Warner Classics
18	Palimpsests(CD, Album)	2004	Nimbus Records
19	George Benjamin - Pierre-Laurent Aimard · Tabea Zimmermann · Antoine Tamestit – Shadowlines · Viola, Viola · Three Studies · Piano Sonata(CD, )	2004	Nimbus Records
20	A Mind of Winter (The Music of George Benjamin)(CD, Album)	2000	Nimbus Records
21	Sudden Time(CD, Album, Stereo)	1999	Ensemble Modern Medien
22	Three Inventions / Upon Silence / Sudden Time / Octet(CD, Stereo, Ambisonic)	1997	Nimbus Records
23	George Benjamin, The London Philharmonic Orchestra – Sudden Time(CD, Maxi-Single)	1994	Nimbus Records
24	George Benjamin Plays Piano Sonata(CD, Album, Reissue)	1992	Nimbus Records
25	Irmela Nolte, Cristóbal Halffter, Giacinto Scelsi, Isang Yun, George Benjamin, Edison Denisov, Jan Jirásek, Henri Pousseur, Goffredo Petrassi – Flöte Avantgarde(CD, Album)	1990	Blackbird Rec
26	George Benjamin - Pierre Boulez, Jonathan Harvey, London Sinfonietta – Antara / Dérive • Memoriale / Song Offerings	1989	Nimbus Records
27	George Benjamin, London Sinfonietta, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Mark Elder (2) – At- First Light - A Mind Of Winter - Ringed By The Flat Horizon	1987	Nimbus Records
28	Carl Davis (5), Daryl Runswick, Dominic Muldowney, Jonathan Harvey, Evelyn Glennie, Malcolm Arnold, Peter Sculthorpe, Colin Matthews, George Benjamin, Benjamin Britten – Profiles - Themes - Atmospheres(CD, Album, Stereo)	-	Faber Music