Celebrating Benjamin Britten

Tuesday 11 September 2012

The Britten-Pears Foundation has unveiled details of the centenary celebrations for RCM alumnus Benjamin Britten (1913-1976).

The launch event was held at the RCM’s very own Britten Theatre, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and is home to our renowned International Opera School.

Britten 100 begins this September and continues through to 2013. Many famous orchestras, opera companies, conductors and school children will be involved in the festivities both in the UK and aboard.  

Beyond worldwide performances of his music, plans also extend to books, films, dance, radio festivals and special television programming, recordings, exhibitions, conferences, online initiatives for children, heritage trails and even a new building at The Red House, Britten’s much-loved home in Aldeburgh.

The Royal Mint has also announced that a new 50p coin depicting Britten will go into circulation at the end of this year, underlining the importance of the composer as a leading figure in British cultural history.

Find out more by visiting www.britten100.org

[photograph by Mark Allan]