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Peter Neville Luard Pears
Librettist
Biography
Sir Peter Neville Luard Pears CBE was an English tenor. His career was closely associated with the composer Benjamin Britten, his personal and professional partner for nearly forty years.

Pears' wrote the libretto for A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten.

Pears' musical career started slowly. He was at first unsure whether to concentrate on playing piano and organ, or singing; it was not until he met Britten in 1937 that he threw himself wholeheartedly into singing. Once he and Britten were established as a partnership, the composer wrote many concert and operatic works with Pears's voice in mind, and the singer played roles in more than ten operas by Britten. In the concert hall, Pears and Britten were celebrated recitalists, known in particular for their performances of lieder by Schubert and Schumann. Together they recorded most of the works written for Pears by Britten, as well as a wide range of music by other composers. Working with other musicians, Pears sang an extensive repertoire of music from four centuries, from the Tudor period to the most modern times.

With Britten, Pears was a co-founder of the Aldeburgh Festival in 1947 and the Britten-Pears School in 1972. After Britten died in 1976, Pears remained an active participant in the festival and the school, where he was director of singing. His voice had a distinctive timbre, not to all tastes, however he could use his voice very well in singing many musical styles.

Productions
Click company name to view productions details.
COMPANYTITLEDATES
Opera Theatre of Saint LouisA Midsummer Night's Dream6/14/2025 - 6/28/2025
Atlanta OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream3/2/2024 - 3/10/2024
Vancouver OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream2/11/2023 - 2/19/2023
Des Moines Metro OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream7/2/2022 - 7/23/2022
Santa Fe OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream7/31/2021 - 8/25/2021
Opera PhiladelphiaA Midsummer Night's Dream2/8/2019 - 2/17/2019
Virginia OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream2/9/2018 - 2/25/2018
Lakes Area Music FestivalA Midsummer Night's Dream8/13/2016 - 8/14/2016
Pacific Opera VictoriaA Midsummer Night's Dream4/14/2016 - 4/24/2016
Yale UniversityA Midsummer Night's Dream2/19/2016 - 2/21/2016
Hawai'i Opera TheatreA Midsummer Night's Dream2/12/2016 - 2/16/2016
Metropolitan OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream10/10/2013 - 10/18/2013
Boston Lyric OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream4/4/2011 - 5/10/2011
Lyric Opera of ChicagoA Midsummer Night's Dream11/8/2010 - 11/22/2010
Canadian Opera CompanyA Midsummer Night's Dream5/5/2009 - 5/23/2009
Houston Grand OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream2/2/2009 - 2/6/2009
Des Moines Metro OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream6/6/2007 - 7/14/2007
Juilliard SchoolA Midsummer Night's Dream11/1/2005 - 11/19/2005
Chicago Opera TheaterA Midsummer Night's Dream5/1/2005 - 5/28/2005
Utah Symphony | Utah OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream3/1/2005 - 3/20/2005
Opera North (U.S.)A Midsummer Night's Dream8/1/2004 - 8/28/2004
Lyric Opera of Kansas CityA Midsummer Night's Dream3/1/2004 - 3/21/2004
Manhattan School of MusicA Midsummer Night's Dream12/1/2003 - 12/13/2003
Opera AustraliaA Midsummer Night's Dream10/1/2003 - 10/29/2003
Pittsburgh OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream2/2/2003 - 2/9/2003
Central City OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream7/7/2002 - 8/10/2002
Metropolitan OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream4/4/2002 - 5/10/2002
Florentine Opera CompanyA Midsummer Night's Dream2/2/2002 - 2/23/2002
Opera AustraliaA Midsummer Night's Dream7/7/2000 - 8/12/2000
Curtis Institute of MusicA Midsummer Night's Dream4/4/2000 - 4/28/2000
Opera SaratogaA Midsummer Night's Dream8/6/1997 - 8/13/1997
Metropolitan OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream11/11/1996 - 12/20/1996
Opera AustraliaA Midsummer Night's Dream1/1/1996 - 9/1/1993
Pacific Opera VictoriaA Midsummer Night's Dream2/1/1993 - 2/20/1993
University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of MusicA Midsummer Night's Dream2/1/1993 - 2/14/1993
Houston Grand OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream1/1/1993 - 2/1/1993
San Francisco OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream11/1/1992 - 12/1/1992
Los Angeles OperaA Midsummer Night's Dream9/1/1992 - 10/1/1992
Opera Theatre of Saint LouisA Midsummer Night's Dream6/1/1992 - 6/21/1992
Artist Information

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