Page 283 - Media Coverage Book - 75th Aldeburgh Festival 2024
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Yet, Britten and his partner Pears were resolute about the idea of a
music and arts event, galvanizing the local community who would
provide funding, and meet various logistical challenges like bed and
breakfast accommodation for visiting artists. The then recently
formed Arts Council initially stumped up £300 (£9000 in today’s
money) for the 8-day festival of concerts, art exhibitions and
lectures.
EM Forster giving a lecture about George Crabbe at the Aldeburgh Baptist Church during the
1948 Festival
The first Festival would see Forster give a talk on the subject of
Aldeburgh poet George Crabbe similar to the one Britten had read
in The Listener that had inspired the conscientious objector not only
to return home to England but to pen Peter Grimes. Along with a
series of talks and exhibitions, an exhibition of the Sadler’s Wells
production design was mounted in the town’s Moot Hall capitalised
on the success of Britten’s first opera. The Festival 1948 opened
