Eric Crozier

Eric Crozier OBE (14 November 19147 September 1994) was a British theatrical director, opera librettist and producer, long associated with Benjamin Britten.

Early life and career

Crozier was born in London and studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and at the British Institute in Paris, working as a translator and giving English lessons. In Paris he joined Jacques Copeau's La Compagnie des Quinze, known for championing experimental drama. Returning to England, he became one of the first drama producers for BBC Television, a position that his friendship with the actor Stephen Haggard helped him to obtain.Biography, Royal Opera House
/ref> Productions during that time included ''Turn Round'' (1937) and ''Telecrime'' (1938). Crozier joined the Old Vic theatre, working with Tyrone Guthrie, then moved during the war to the Sadlers Wells Opera Company where he directed Smetana's ''The Bartered Bride'' in 1943 with Peter Pears in the lead role.

Association with Britten

The association with Benjamin Britten began when Crozier directed his first opera, ''Peter Grimes'', which had its world premiere at Sadler's Wells on 7 June 1945. Although this was both a critical and a commercial success there were many difficulties over its staging, including objections both to the music and to Britten's pacifism. Crozier fiercely defended the opera, and after the premiere he resigned from the company due to the lukewarm support he had received from the management.

Instead, Crozier founded the English Opera Group in 1947, and co-founded (with Britten) the Aldeburgh Festival in 1948. He directed his second wife, Nancy Evans, in the role of Lucretia in the 1946 premiere of Britten's opera ''The Rape of Lucretia'' at Glyndebourne, and later succeeded Peter Pears as director of the Aldeburgh Festival. His first opera libretto for Britten was ''Albert Herring'' (1947). He wrote the librettos for the cantata ''Saint Nicholas'' (1948), the children's opera ''Let's Make an Opera'' (1949), and (with E.M Forster) ''Billy Budd'' at Covent Garden in 1951.

Other work

Crozier wrote the libretto for ''Ruth'', a 1956 sacred opera by Lennox Berkeley, after the Old Testament Book of Ruth. He also worked closely with Arthur Bliss, contributing the words for his ''Cradle Song for a Newborn Child'' (1964) as well as helping him with the proofs and advising on the content of his biography ''As I Remember'' (1970). Crozier translated many opera librettos into English, including ''The Bartered Bride'', ''La Traviata'', ''Otello'' and ''Falstaff'' (with Joan Cross), and ''Idomeneo'', ''Salome'' and ''Die Frau ohne Schatten''.

Personal life

Crozier was married twice: first (in 1936 to stage designer and actress Biddy Crozier (born Ada Margaret Johns, 1915-2004) with whom he had two daughters, and then to the mezzo soprano Nancy Evans in 1949. (Evans' first husband was the record producer Walter Legge). In retirement they lived at Great Glemham, not far from Snape Maltings. He and Nancy were appointed OBEs in the 1991 New Year Honours list.Calder, John. Obituary, ''The Independent'', 23 October, 2011
/ref> The Eric Crozier and Nancy Evans archives are preserved at Aldeburgh. He died after a long period of ill-health at Granville in France.

References

External links

An interview with Eric Crozier recorded in 1992
- a British Library sound recording

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crozier, Eric
British opera directors
1914 births
1994 deaths
People educated at University College School
English theatre directors
English opera librettists
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Writers from London
Benjamin Britten
20th-century British dramatists and playwrights
English male dramatists and playwrights