Osborne, Nigel (1948– )

English composer. He is best known for his vivid and iconoclastic stage works, which include the operas The Electrification of the Soviet Union (1986) and Sarajevo (1994). He studied at Oxford with Egon Wellesz and Kenneth Leighton and in Poland with Witold Rodziński. He lectured at Nottingham University from 1978.

Works Orchestral and choral Byzantine Epigrams for chorus (1969); cantata Seven Words (1971); Charivari for orchestra (1973); Concert Piece for cello and orchestra (1977); Gnostic Passion for 36 voices (1980); flute concerto (1980); Sinfonia for orchestra (1982); violin concerto (1990); The Sun of Venice for orchestra (1991).

Chamber and ensemble Chansonnier for chamber ensemble (1975); I am Goya for baritone and instruments (1977); In Camera for 13 instruments (1979); The Cage for tenor and ensemble (1981); Alba for mezzo, instruments, and tape (1984); Zansa for ensemble (1985); Pornography for mezzo and ensemble (1985); Esquisse I and II for strings (1987–88).

Opera The Electrification of the Soviet Union (1986), Terrible Mouth (1992), and Sarajevo (1994).