George Benjamin

Sir George Benjamin is a British composer, pianist and conductor, born in London in 1960. He began composing at the age of seven and studied composition with Olivier Messiaen and piano with Yvonne Loriod at the Paris Conservatoire, before continuing his studies with Alexander Goehr at King’s College, Cambridge. At the age of 20, he became the youngest composer at the time to have a work performed at the BBC Proms. Benjamin has since established himself as one of today’s leading composers and conductors. He has composed four operas, all in collaboration with the playwright Martin Crimp: Into the Little Hill, Written on Skin, Lessons in Love and Violence and Picture a day like this.

His works are performed internationally to great acclaim. Benjamin was knighted in 2017 and received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale in 2019.

Photo: Åsa Westerlund