British composer Benjamin Britten is set to be honored with a life-size bronze statue in his hometown of Lowestoft in East Suffolk.
The statue will be erected on the seafront opposite Britten's childhood home, and will depict the composer as a young boy looking out to sea. This is in reference to the inspiration he took from the sea, and the early discovery of his talent by composer Frank Bridge when Britten was fourteen years old.
Born in 1913, Britten is one of the most important British composers, and one of the most important composers of the 20th century. Among his most famous works are the popular The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, the Courtly Dances from the opera Gloriana, the widely-acclaimed Peter Grimes, and the War Requiem.
The campaign for the statue was launched in 2021, and is being led by broadcaster Zeb Soanes, who described Britten as Lowestoft's "greatest son." Funds passed the halfway mark in October last year, and have come from individuals, trusts, and various projects such as a concert at Wigmore Hall, and a special limited edition Britten whiskey from the distillery, Adnams.
Soanes himself was born in Lowestoft, and has performed in Britten's Noye's Fludde during Britten's 2013 centenary celebrations. Soanes says: "We hope this beautiful statue will inspire future generations of Lowestoft children to gaze out to the horizon and dream big. When Britten was made a Freeman of Lowestoft in 1951, he said, 'As an artist I want to serve the community'. I believe he would be delighted that, 70 years later, this image of his young self will continue to do that."
The statue-whose maquette was unveiled in 2022-will be sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley. His longstanding ties with Britain's royal family have led to commissions for Princess Diana's memorial statue at Kensington Palace, and Queen Elizabeth II's effigy used by the Royal Mint starting in 1998. "The genius of Britten appeared in childhood. A statue of him as a boy in Lowestoft can inspire generations of children to follow their dreams. Bronze is for eternity, Britten deserves no less," says Rank-Broadley.
Britten's commemorative statue has garnered support from other musical figures such as mezzo-soprano Dame Janet Baker, and baritone Sir Thomas Allen. It is set to be completed in 2025.
