Editing Benjamin Britten (section)

==Honours, awards and commemorations==
[[File:Benjamin Britten 137 Cromwell Road blue plaque.jpg|thumb|Blue plaque at 137 [[Cromwell Road]] in London]]

State honours awarded to Britten included appointment as a [[Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour]] (United Kingdom) in 1953;<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=39863 |date=1 June 1953 |page=2976 |supp=y}}</ref> Commander of the [[Order of the Polar Star|Royal Order of the Polar Star]] (Sweden) in 1962; the [[Order of Merit]] (United Kingdom) in 1965;<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=43610|date=26 March 1965|page=3047|supp=y|nolink=y}}</ref> and a [[life peer]]age (United Kingdom) in July 1976, he took the title ''Baron Britten, of Aldeburgh in the County of Suffolk''.<ref name="TheLondon"/> He received honorary degrees and fellowships from 19 conservatories and universities in Europe and America. His awards included the [[Hanseatic Goethe Prize]] (1961); the Aspen Award, Colorado (1964); the [[Royal Philharmonic Society]]'s Gold Medal (1964); the [[Wihuri Sibelius Prize]] (1965); the Mahler Medal (Bruckner and Mahler Society of America, 1967); the [[Léonie Sonning Music Prize]] (Denmark, 1968); the [[Ernst von Siemens Music Prize]] (1974); and the Ravel Prize (1974).<ref>[http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U152634 "Britten, Baron"], ''Who Was Who'', A & C Black, online edition, Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 24 May 2013 {{Subscription}}.</ref> Prizes for individual works included [[UNESCO]]'s [[International Rostrum of Composers]] 1961 for ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''; and [[Grammy Award]]s in 1963 and 1977 for the ''War Requiem''.<ref>[http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame "Grammy Hall of Fame"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626200735/https://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame |date=26 June 2015}}, ''Grammy.org'', accessed 24 May 2013.</ref>

[[The Red House, Aldeburgh]], where Britten and Pears lived and worked together from 1957 until Britten's death in 1976, is now the home of the Britten-Pears Foundation, established to promote their musical legacy.<ref>[http://www.brittenpears.org/visit-the-red-house "Visit The Red House"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111095534/http://www.brittenpears.org/visit-the-red-house |date=11 January 2017}}, Britten-Pears Foundation, accessed 10 June 2016</ref> In Britten's centenary year his studio at the Red House was restored to the way it was in the 1950s and opened to the public. The converted hayloft was designed and built by [[H. T. Cadbury-Brown|H T Cadbury Brown]] in 1958 and was described by Britten as a "magnificent work".<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/classicalmusic/10120134/Benjamin-Britten-studio-restored.html "Benjamin Britten studio restored"], ''The Daily Telegraph'', 14 June 2013, accessed 11 June 2016</ref> In June 2013 Dame Janet Baker officially opened the Britten-Pears archive in a new building in the grounds of the Red House.<ref>[http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/britten-pears-archive-opens-in-aldeburgh "Britten-Pears Archive opens in Aldeburgh"], ''Gramophone'', 14 June 2013</ref> [[The Benjamin Britten Music Academy]] in Lowestoft, founded in the composer's honour, was completed in 1979; it is an 11–18 co-educational day school, with ties to the Britten-Pears Foundation.<ref>[http://www.benjaminbritten.school/default.aspx "Home page"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819155106/http://www.benjaminbritten.school/default.aspx |date=19 August 2016}}, Benjamin Britten School, accessed 29 July 2016</ref>

[[File:The Scallop, Maggi Hambling, Aldeburgh.jpg|thumb|left|''[[Scallop (2003)|Scallop]]'' by [[Maggi Hambling]] is a sculpture dedicated to Benjamin Britten on the beach at [[Aldeburgh]]. The edge of the shell is pierced with the words "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" from ''Peter Grimes''.]]
A memorial stone to Britten was unveiled in the north choir aisle of Westminster Abbey in 1978.<ref>[http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/people/benjamin-britten "Benjamin Britten"], Westminster Abbey, accessed 24 May 2013</ref> There are memorial plaques to him at three of his London homes: 173 Cromwell Road,<ref>[http://openplaques.org/plaques/211 Benjamin Britten OM, 1913–1976] Open Plaques, accessed 10 June 2016</ref> 45a [[St John's Wood]] High Street,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Westminster Green Plaques |url=https://www.westminster.gov.uk/sites/default/files/green_plaque_full_list.pdf |website=Westminster City Council}}</ref> and 8 Halliford Street in [[Islington]].<ref>[http://www.islington.gov.uk/islington/history-heritage/heritage_borough/bor_plaques/Pages/a_z_plaques.aspx "Islington Borough plaques"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022153504/http://www.islington.gov.uk/islington/history-heritage/heritage_borough/bor_plaques/Pages/a_z_plaques.aspx |date=22 October 2014}}, Islington Borough Council, accessed 24 May 2013</ref> In April 2013 Britten was honoured by the [[Royal Mail]] in the UK, as one of ten people selected as subjects for the "Great Britons" [[Great Britain commemorative stamps 2010–2019|commemorative postage stamp]] issue.<ref>[http://www.royalmailgroup.com/royal-mail-celebrates-%E2%80%98great-britons%E2%80%99-launch-latest-special-stamp-collection "Great Britons"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402113345/http://www.royalmailgroup.com/royal-mail-celebrates-%E2%80%98great-britons%E2%80%99-launch-latest-special-stamp-collection |date=2 April 2016}}, Royal Mail, accessed 11 June 2013.</ref>

Other creative artists have celebrated Britten. In 1970 Walton composed ''[[Improvisations on an Impromptu of Benjamin Britten]]'', based on a theme from Britten's Piano Concerto.<ref>[[Edward Greenfield|Greenfield, Edward]]. Notes to EMI CD CDM 7 64723 2 (1986)</ref> Works commemorating Britten include ''[[Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten]]'' an orchestral piece written in 1977 by [[Arvo Pärt]], and [[Sally Beamish]]'s ''Variations on a Theme of Benjamin Britten'', based on the second Sea Interlude from ''Peter Grimes''; she composed the work to mark Britten's centenary.<ref>[http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:UKNB:GLHB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=145200B8C9319F58&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=102CDD40F14C6BDA "Arts News"], ''[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]'', 15 March 2013, accessed 11 June 2016</ref> [[Alan Bennett]] depicts Britten in a 2009 play ''[[The Habit of Art]]'', set while Britten is composing ''Death in Venice'' and centred on a fictional meeting between Britten and Auden. Britten was played in the premiere production by [[Alex Jennings]].<ref>Taylor, Paul. [http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:UKNB:TND1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=132548768AD77788&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=102CDD40F14C6BDA "Bennett the maestro returns with a multi-layered masterpiece"], ''[[The Independent]]'' 18 November 2009, accessed 11 June 2016</ref>

Tony Palmer made three documentary films about Britten: ''Benjamin Britten & his Festival'' (1967);<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160820000607/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b69fa2631 "Benjamin Britten & his Festival"] (1967). The British Film Institute, accessed 11 June 2016</ref> ''A Time There Was'' (1979);<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0968252/ Benjamin Britten: A Time There Was... (1979)] IMDb, accessed 11 June 2016</ref> and ''Nocturne'' (2013).<ref>[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Britten-Nocturne-NTSC-Tony-Palmer/dp/B00CEX16X6 Britten Nocturne (DVD)] Amazon, accessed 11 June 2016</ref> In 2019, Britten's ''War Requiem'' was selected by the U.S. [[Library of Congress]] for preservation in the [[National Recording Registry]] for being "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andrews |first=Travis M. |date=20 March 2019 |title=Jay-Z, a speech by Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and 'Schoolhouse Rock!' among recordings deemed classics by Library of Congress |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/jay-z-a-speech-by-sen-robert-f-kennedy-and-schoolhouse-rock-among-recordings-deemed-classics-by-library-of-congress/2019/03/19/f7eb08ea-4a58-11e9-9663-00ac73f49662_story.html? |access-date=25 March 2019 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref>

In April 2022 a project to commemorate Britten in Lowestoft was launched by the broadcaster and children's author [[Zeb Soanes]]. A maquette of the intended full-sized statue of Britten as a boy was unveiled by the sculptor [[Ian Rank-Broadley]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boggis |first=Mark |date=30 April 2022 |title=Unique new statue of Britten as a Boy 'can inspire generations' |url=https://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/lifestyle/heritage/new-statue-benjamin-britten-kirkley-lowestoft-8930980 |website=Lowestoft Journal}}</ref> {{As of|2024|01}}, £89,000 of £110,000 target had been raised.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 January 2024 |title=Britten as a Boy Statue |url=https://www.brittenasaboy.com |website=Britten as a Boy Statue}}</ref>

===Centenary===
In September 2012, to mark the composer's forthcoming centenary, the Britten-Pears Foundation launched "Britten 100", a collaboration of leading organisations in the performing arts, publishing, broadcasting, film, academia and heritage.<ref>[http://www.britten100.org/whats-going-on/news/britten-100-media-launch "It's begun – Biggest ever celebration of a British composer underway"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130104507/http://www.britten100.org/whats-going-on/news/britten-100-media-launch |date=30 November 2012}}, Britten100, Britten-Pears Foundation, accessed 24 May 2013.</ref> Among the events were the release of a feature film ''Benjamin Britten – Peace and Conflict'',<ref>French, Philip. [https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/may/26/benjamin-britten-peace-conflict-review "Benjamin Britten: Peace and Conflict – review"], ''The Observer'', 26 May 2013</ref> and a centenary exhibition at the [[British Library]].<ref>[http://www.bl.uk/press-releases/2013/may/the-british-library-explores-benjamin-brittens-literary-poetic-and-musical-influences-with-a-new-exh "Poetry in Sound: The Music of Benjamin Britten (1913–1976)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412074554/https://www.bl.uk/press-releases/2013/may/the-british-library-explores-benjamin-brittens-literary-poetic-and-musical-influences-with-a-new-exh |date=12 April 2021}}, The British Library, accessed 11 June 2016</ref> The [[Royal Mint]] issued a [[Fifty pence (British coin)|50-pence]] piece, to mark the centenary – the first time a composer has featured on a British coin.<ref>[http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/royal-mint-unveils-commemorative-britten-coin "Royal Mint unveils commemorative Britten coin"] ''Gramophone'', 1 September 2013</ref>

Centenary performances of the ''War Requiem'' were given at eighteen locations in Britain. Opera productions included ''Owen Wingrave'' at Aldeburgh, ''Billy Budd'' at Glyndebourne, ''Death in Venice'' by [[English National Opera]], ''Gloriana'' by [[The Royal Opera]], and ''Peter Grimes'', ''Death in Venice'' and ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' by [[Opera North]].<ref name="events">[http://www.britten100.org/whats-going-on/events/worldwide?title=&type=&perf=&radius=20&near=&place=&date_from=&date_to=&n=50 "Britten events worldwide"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225062247/http://www.britten100.org/whats-going-on/events/worldwide?title=&type=&perf=&radius=20&near=&place=&date_from=&date_to=&n=50 |date=25 December 2014}}, Britten100, Britten-Pears Foundation, accessed 15 June 2013</ref> ''Peter Grimes'' was performed on the beach at Aldeburgh, opening the 2013 Aldeburgh Festival in June 2013, with [[Steuart Bedford]] conducting and singers from the Chorus of [[Opera North]] and the Chorus of the [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]],<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-22938641 "In pictures: Britten's Peter Grimes on Aldeburgh beach"], BBC, 18 June, accessed 11 June 2016</ref> described by ''[[The Guardian]]'' as "a remarkable, and surely unrepeatable achievement."<ref>Clement, Andrew. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/18/peter-grimes-on-the-beach-aldeburgh-festival-review "Grimes on the Beach"], ''The Guardian'', 19 June 2013, accessed 11 June 2016</ref>

Internationally, the anniversary was marked by performances of the ''War Requiem'', ''Peter Grimes'' and other works in four continents. In the US the centennial events were described as "coast to coast", with a Britten festival at [[Carnegie Hall]], and performances at the [[New York Philharmonic]], the [[Metropolitan Opera]] and [[Los Angeles Opera]].<ref>[[Anthony Tommasini|Tommasini, Anthony]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/09/arts/music/britten-at-100-an-originals-legacy.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 "Britten at 100: An Original's Legacy"], ''The New York Times'', 7 June 2013, accessed 11 June 2016</ref>