Given Roger plays (or played) the cello, and is a champion of British music, if not exclusively, I thought (Britten’s teacher) Frank Bridge’s Oration (1930) might be a good choice of music…
Many Happy Returns to Roger Wright, Chief Executive of Britten Pears Arts, 66 today. Oration.
Happy Birthday, Roger. He was responsible for John’s FIRST-EVER Proms orchestral commission, the 7-minute orchestral concert opener, Joybox (2013). Roger has vast knowledge of British music ( he did wonderful things during his time at the BMIC). What is possibly less well-known is that he is also very knowledgeable about London’s history and geography.
Many happy Returns, old chum – I need hardly say how desperately a musician of your knowledge and experience is missed at the catastrophic muddle that passes for the Proms these days; coincidental with my old mate Lukas Foss, who, whenever he was in London (which wasn’t that often) he would regale me with stories of Hindemith, Schoenberg and Bernstein – August 15th is a day worth celebrating for the remembrances it brings.