Lennox Berkeley

On 12 May 1903 in Oxford was born Lennox Berkeley, an English composer of distinction who studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris in the late twenties, which seemed to give a gentle aura of French music to most of his output. His chamber opera A Dinner Engagement is particularly notable amongst his best works. His list is quite large, including four symphonies and three other operas. He died on 26 December 1989.

A selection of articles about Lennox Berkeley

Spotlight. Interconnected Composers - Geoff Pearce listens to orchestral music by Ravel, Lennox Berkeley and Adam Pounds. 'The Pounds work is a revelation and I would buy this disc just for this alone.'

Classical music news. Obituary - Peter Dickinson (1934-2023)

CD Spotlight. A Unique and Modern Dissonance - The complete piano music of Lennox Berkeley, heard by Patrick Maxwell. '... Douglas Stevens has given all of his works here a brilliant series of renditions ...'

Ensemble. Sprightly, Polished and Gleaming - Mike Wheeler listens to Mozart, Malcolm Arnold and Lennox Berkeley from Alec Frank-Gemmill and Sinfonia Viva, conducted by Frank Zielhorst

CD Spotlight. Infinitely Varied - English music for solo guitar, enjoyed by Geoff Pearce. 'If you love English guitar music, and the performances of Julian Bream in particular, you will truly enjoy this disc.'

CD Spotlight. Major Voices - Vocal and choral music by Lennox and Michael Berkeley, recommended by Geoff Pearce. '... thrilling performance.'

Ensemble. A Musical Polymath - Peter Dickinson's eightieth birthday concert, enjoyed by Malcolm Miller

CD Spotlight. Musically Engaging - English recorder works played by Jill Kemp, heard by Patric Standford. '... a virtuoso performer ...'

CD Spotlight. Spellbinding Artistry - Jonathan Plowright plays Chopin, recommended by Howard Smith. '... positively hair-raising.'

Ensemble. Beautifully Turned - Horn trios by Lennox Berkeley, Jeremy Thurlow and Haydn impress Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Bitter strength - Orchestral music by Benjamin Britten, recommended by Ron Bierman. '... outstanding performances.'

Record box. Accomplished playing - Kumiko Ida's British piano album, appreciated by Patric Standford

CD Spotlight. Sonatas and sonatinas - Guitar music played by Nathan Kolosko, recommended by Malcolm Tattersall. 'Kolosko's playing is clean, fluent and assured ...'

Ensemble. A stunning masterpiece - Opera East on tour with Lennox Berkeley's 'A Dinner Engagement' and Holst's 'The Wandering Scholar' - Peter Dickinson reports

Ensemble. Coming of age - Keith Bramich at the twenty-first Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts

Classical objectivity? - Peter Dale reads 'The Music of Lennox Berkeley' by Peter Dickinson