Rutland Boughton

English Composer and Opera Creator

Rutland Boughton (1878–1960) was an English composer best known for his operas and choral music. His career was marked by an early success with the opera "The Immortal Hour," which became extremely popular in the 1920s, enjoying hundreds of performances. Boughton's style was influenced by the folk song revival and the works of Richard Wagner, as well as Celtic literature and mythology, which is evident in "The Immortal Hour." He also composed symphonies, concertos, and chamber music. Despite his initial success, Boughton's work fell into relative obscurity after his death. However, there has been some interest in reviving his compositions in recent years, leading to recordings and performances of his works such as Symphony No. 3, Oboe Concerto, Aylesbury Games, Flute Concerto, and Concerto for Strings. Boughton was also a political idealist, with some of his works reflecting his socialist beliefs. His commitment to making music accessible to a wider audience led him to found the Glastonbury Festivals (not to be confused with the contemporary Glastonbury Festival), which were an attempt to establish a British equivalent to the Bayreuth Festival dedicated to Wagner's music.