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Benjamin Britten was one of the most influential British composers of the 20th century, with celebrated works such as 'Peter Grimes', 'Friday Afternoons' or 'A Simple Symphony'. Music infused his very first moments in life and he started to develop his musical instincts from a very early age. Many of his future masterpieces can be traced back to the inspiration of his youth. This week, Donald Macleod explores these crucial early years in Britten's creative story, from his birth under the star of St Cecilia to his departure for America at 25 years old.

Donald Macleod follows young Britten at a time of change: he buys a new house in his beloved Suffolk, meets an influential singing friend, and thinks about new adventures abroad...

Two Lullabies:
No 2, 'Lullaby for a retired colonel'
Stephen Hough, piano
Ronan O’Hora, piano

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op 64
Act 1: ‘Come, Now a Roundel and a Fairy Song (Tytania)
Act 1: ‘You Spotted Snakes with Double Tongues’ (Fairies)
Lillian Watson, soprano
Trinity Boys Choir
City of London Sinfonia
Richard Hickox, conductor

Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op 10
Sinfonia of London
John Wilson, conductor

The Company of Heaven
Part 3, VII. ‘A Thousand, Thousand Gleaming Fires’
Dan Dressen, tenor
English Chamber Orchestra
Philip Brunelle, conductor

Piano Concerto, Op 13
1st mvt, Toccata: Allegro molto e con brio
Steven Osborne, piano
Scott Dickinson, viola
´óÏó´«Ã½ Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov, conductor

Les Illuminations, Op 18 (on poems by Arthur Rimbaud)
No. 5, ‘Marine’
No. 7, ‘Being Beauteous’
Ian Bostridge, tenor
Berliner Philharmoniker
Sir Simon Rattle, conductor

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Julien Rosa
A ´óÏó´«Ã½ Audio Wales & West production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3