Julian Budden
Encyclopedia
Julian Medforth Budden, BA, BMus (9 April 1924, Hoylake
, Wirral
– 28 February 2007, Florence
, Italy) was a British opera scholar, radio producer and broadcaster. He is particularly known for his three volumes on the opera
s of Giuseppe Verdi
(published in 1973, 1978, & 1981), a single volume biography in 1982 and a single volume work on Giacomo Puccini
and his operas in 2002. He is also the author of numerous entries in the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
.
His parents were the then professor of architecture at Liverpool University, Lionel Budden, and a poet, writer and journalist Maud, (née Fraser) who from 1938 until 1964 provided the rhymes for the strip 'Curly Wee and Gussie Goose', which was syndicated in newspapers throughout the world. He attended Stowe School
and read Classics at Queen's College Oxford
.
The war interrupted his studies; he worked in the Friends' Ambulance Unit
from 1943-46, serving in Austria and Italy. He completed his BA in 1948 and then studied piano (with Thornton Lofthouse) and bassoon (with Archie Camden
) at the Royal College of Music
.
From 1951 until 1983 Budden worked for the BBC
, progressing from junior posts to become a producer, then Chief Producer of Opera (1970-76) and External Services Music Organizer (1976-83). This time saw many little-known works produced and important revivals, including the original versions of Macbeth
, La forza del destino
and Simon Boccanegra
and the full French version of Don Carlos
.
Concurrently Budden pursued a career as a writer, starting with the BBC publication, The Listener, and then his major study of Verdi, in a writing style "generous to past scholars... generous to his readers. [His prose was] full of wit and relaxed communication".
After leaving the BBC he was based in both London and Florence (he spoke fluent Italian), where he was a regular correspondent for Opera
magazine and was a presence at the Istituto Nazionale di Studi Verdiani in Parma
. He was president of the Centro di Studi Giacomo Puccini in Lucca
up to his death.
He was made a Fellow of the British Academy in 1987 and awarded an OBE for services to opera in 1991.
Hoylake
Hoylake is a seaside town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, on Merseyside, England. It is located at the north western corner of the Wirral Peninsula, near to the town of West Kirby and where the River Dee estuary meets the Irish Sea...
, Wirral
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
– 28 February 2007, Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Italy) was a British opera scholar, radio producer and broadcaster. He is particularly known for his three volumes on the opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s of Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
(published in 1973, 1978, & 1981), a single volume biography in 1982 and a single volume work on Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini was an Italian composer whose operas, including La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot, are among the most frequently performed in the standard repertoire...
and his operas in 2002. He is also the author of numerous entries in the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, it is the largest single reference work on Western music. The dictionary has gone through several editions since the 19th century...
.
His parents were the then professor of architecture at Liverpool University, Lionel Budden, and a poet, writer and journalist Maud, (née Fraser) who from 1938 until 1964 provided the rhymes for the strip 'Curly Wee and Gussie Goose', which was syndicated in newspapers throughout the world. He attended Stowe School
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
and read Classics at Queen's College Oxford
The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, founded 1341, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Queen's is centrally situated on the High Street, and is renowned for its 18th-century architecture...
.
The war interrupted his studies; he worked in the Friends' Ambulance Unit
Friends' Ambulance Unit
The Friends' Ambulance Unit was a volunteer ambulance service, founded by individual members of the British Religious Society of Friends , in line with their Peace Testimony. The FAU operated from 1914–1919, 1939–1946 and 1946-1959 in 25 different countries around the world...
from 1943-46, serving in Austria and Italy. He completed his BA in 1948 and then studied piano (with Thornton Lofthouse) and bassoon (with Archie Camden
Archie Camden
Archie Camden was a British bassoonist; he was a pedagogue and soloist of international acclaim. His career began in 1906 when he joined the Hallé Orchestra where he became principal bassoonist in 1914. In 1933 he moved to the BBC Symphony Orchestra, where he stayed until 1946 when he took up...
) at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
.
From 1951 until 1983 Budden worked for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, progressing from junior posts to become a producer, then Chief Producer of Opera (1970-76) and External Services Music Organizer (1976-83). This time saw many little-known works produced and important revivals, including the original versions of Macbeth
Macbeth (opera)
Macbeth is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi, with an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and additions by Andrea Maffei, based on Shakespeare's play of the same name...
, La forza del destino
La forza del destino
La forza del destino is an Italian opera by Giuseppe Verdi. The libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on a Spanish drama, Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino , by Ángel de Saavedra, Duke of Rivas, with a scene adapted from Friedrich Schiller's Wallensteins Lager. It was first performed...
and Simon Boccanegra
Simon Boccanegra
Simon Boccanegra is an opera with a prologue and three acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on the play Simón Bocanegra by Antonio García Gutiérrez....
and the full French version of Don Carlos
Don Carlos
Don Carlos is a five-act grand opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi to a French language libretto by Camille du Locle and Joseph Méry, based on the dramatic play Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien by Friedrich Schiller...
.
Concurrently Budden pursued a career as a writer, starting with the BBC publication, The Listener, and then his major study of Verdi, in a writing style "generous to past scholars... generous to his readers. [His prose was] full of wit and relaxed communication".
After leaving the BBC he was based in both London and Florence (he spoke fluent Italian), where he was a regular correspondent for Opera
Opera (magazine)
Opera is a monthly British magazine devoted to covering all things related to opera.Based in London, the magazine was founded in 1950 by George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood. It was launched at the house of Richard Buckle, under the imprint 'Ballet Publications Ltd'...
magazine and was a presence at the Istituto Nazionale di Studi Verdiani in Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
. He was president of the Centro di Studi Giacomo Puccini in Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
up to his death.
He was made a Fellow of the British Academy in 1987 and awarded an OBE for services to opera in 1991.
Publications
- The Operas of Verdi, Volume 1 (3rd edition), New York: Oxford University Press, 1983 ISBN 0198162618
- The Operas of Verdi, Volume 2 (3rd edition), New York: Oxford University Press, 1983 ISBN 0198162626
- The Operas of Verdi, Volume 3 (3rd edition), New York: Oxford University Press, 1983 ISBN 0198162634
- Puccini: His Life and Works, New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. (4 Editions) ISBN 0198164688