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Sir Harrison Birtwistle

(1934-2022), Composer

Sitter in 7 portraits
Birtwistle studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music (1952-55) where he met Peter Maxwell Davies and Alexander Goehr. Attracted to the avant-garde, the group were known for a time as the 'Manchester School'. Birtwistle's opera Punch and Judy caused controversy when it was premiered in 1968 due to the style of the music and violence of the plot. His works included Gawain (1991), hailed as his masterpiece, and the opera The Minotaur(2008). He was knighted in 1988.

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Sir Harrison Birtwistle, by Lewis Morley - NPG P512(4)

Sir Harrison Birtwistle

by Lewis Morley
bromide print, 1960s
NPG P512(4)

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies; Sir Harrison Birtwistle, by David Hockney - NPG 6515

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies; Sir Harrison Birtwistle

by David Hockney
pen and ink on paper, 1970
NPG 6515

Sir Harrison Birtwistle, by Lord Snowdon - NPG P1853

Sir Harrison Birtwistle

by Lord Snowdon
gelatin silver print, 6 February 1991
NPG P1853

Sir Harrison Birtwistle, by Adam Birtwistle - NPG 6256

Sir Harrison Birtwistle

by Adam Birtwistle
gouache and tempera, 1992
NPG 6256

Sir Harrison Birtwistle, by Tom Phillips - NPG 6822

Sir Harrison Birtwistle

by Tom Phillips
oil on canvas, 1995
NPG 6822

Sir Harrison Birtwistle, by George Newson - NPG x35731

Sir Harrison Birtwistle

by George Newson
bromide print, 1984
NPG x35731

Sir Harrison Birtwistle, by Anne-Katrin Purkiss - NPG x31690

Sir Harrison Birtwistle

by Anne-Katrin Purkiss
bromide print, August 1987
NPG x31690

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