British tenor who was Benjamin Britten's life partner and the voice for which Britten composed his greatest roles — Peter Grimes, Billy Budd, Aschenbach in Death in Venice — and whose collaboration with Britten produced the most important body of English vocal music in the 20th century.
Provides the human instrument that shaped Britten's entire compositional output — Britten wrote for Pears's distinctive lyric tenor throughout his career — making their artistic collaboration the most productive composer-singer partnership in 20th century opera.
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