Owen Wingrave

Libretto (English) to Owen Wingrave.

A committed pacifist born into a renowned military family is met with a torrent of disapproval over his beliefs yet desperate to keep the love of his would-be bride, Owen is determined to prove his inner strength, which leads him towards his mysterious end. Britten employs a selection of motifs, portraying the military tradition of the Wingrave family and the contrasting beliefs of Owen himself, which are evoked by the sound of Britten's beloved gamelan.