The History of British Classical Music

Henry Purcell is often called the greatest English composer of the Baroque period. He wrote music for the royal court, for the theatre and for Westminster Abbey, and his opera "Dido and Aeneas" is still performed today. After his early death in 1695, a German composer took centre stage: George Frideric Handel, born in Halle, settled in London, became a British subject and wrote the "Water Music" and "Messiah".

In the 19th century, Britain had a rich musical life but few famous composers – in 1914, the German writer Oscar Schmitz even called his book about England "Das Land ohne Musik". Yet by then, a new generation had already appeared. Edward Elgar became famous with his "Enigma Variations" (1899) and his "Pomp and Circumstance" marches, and Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst found inspiration in English folk song.

In the 20th century, Benjamin Britten wrote operas such as "Peter Grimes" (1945) that brought British opera international fame. And every summer since 1895, the Proms in London have offered concerts at low prices. Today, the Last Night of the Proms, with its flags and singing, is one of the best-known musical events in Britain.