Britten began writing the cycle in Suffolk in March 1939 and completed it a few months later in the United States. It was the first of his song cycles to gain widespread popularity. The cycle was originally written for a soprano; Britten's biographer David Matthews comments that the work is "so much more sensuous when sung by the soprano voice for which the songs were conceived". Nevertheless the work can be, and more often is, sung by a tenor: Britten conducted the piece with Peter Pears as soloist within two years of the premiere. Pears was the dedicatee of the song "Being Beauteous". Wulff Scherchen was the dedicatee of the song "Antique". Both men were in romantic relationships with Britten.

Original Name Les Illuminations
Date of composition 1939 (March - 25 October 1939)
Premiered 1940, January 30th (Aeolian Hall) in London, United Kingdom
Dedicated to 'For Sophie Wyss'
Type Song(s)
Catalogue BTC 869
Instruments Voice
Voice - Male ;
In listings Famous Works
Autotranslations beta Benjamin Britten: The Illuminations, BTC 869
Benjamin Britten: The Illuminations, BTC 869
Benjamin Britten: The Illuminations, BTC 869