The Travel Diaries of Peter Pears, 1936-1978

Edited by Philip Reed.

This volume brings together all the travel diaries of Sir Peter Pears (1910-1986), principal interpreter of Britten's works. Pears accompanied Britten on many of his trips and the record of their tour of the Far East in 1955 is of special interest. Here the sound of the gamelan orchestras enchanted Britten and deeply influenced his musical development.

CONTENTS

-Foreword, by Marion Thorpe
-Editorial Method
-List of Illustrations
-List of Abbreviations
1. American Tour with the New English Singers (1936)
2. Far East Diary (1955-56)
3. Ansbach Bach Festival (1959)
4. India (1965)
5. Armenian Holiday: A Diary (August 1965)
6. Moscow Christmas: A Diary (December 1966)
7. Nevis Fortnight (1967)
8. Moscow Diary (1971)
9. Saint Enoch (1972)
10. San Fortunato (1972)
11. The New York "Death in Venice" (1974)
12. The New York "Billy Budd" (1978)
-Appendix: German Text of Chapter 3
-Personalia
-Index