Rutland Boughton

Who was Rutland Boughton?

Rutland Boughton was an English composer who became well known in the early 20th century as a composer of opera and choral music.

His ouevre includes three symphonies, several concertos, part-songs, songs, chamber music and opera. His best known work was the opera The Immortal Hour. His Bethlehem, based on the Coventry Nativity Play and notable for its choral arrangements of traditional Christmas carols, also became very popular with choral societies worldwide.

Among his many works, the prolific Boughton composed a complete series of five operas of Arthurian mythos, written over a period of thirty-five years: The Birth of Arthur, The Round Table, The Lily Maid, Galahad and Avalon. Other operas by Boughton include The Moon Maiden; Alkestis; and The Ever Young.

Through the Boughton Trust, many of his major works have been recorded and are available on disc including The Immortal Hour, Bethlehem, Symphony No 1 Oliver Cromwell, Symphony No 2 Deirdre, Symphony No 3, Oboe Concerto No 1, string quartets and various chamber pieces and songs.