Composer anniversaries: who we are celebrating this year, and why it matters.

Anniversaries represent a good moment to reflect on past, present, and future. Whether 50 or 100 or 200 years since an artist’s birth (or death), it is a good opportunity to take stock of their historical life, their current status, and their likely – or otherwise – place in the future. 2026 sees anniversaries for Kurtág, Henze and Feldman as well as the 50th anniversary of Britten’s last Festival in June 1976 (and his death in December that year).

Dr Lucy Walker worked for many years at The Red House, Britten's former home in Aldeburgh, and is our Public Engagement Associate for the Britten anniversary year. She will be diving into the history of anniversaries, celebrating this year's centenarians, and taking a look at Britten now and then. She will be joined by Fiona Maddocks, classical music critic at The Observer and author, for a lively conversation about the reasons we continue to look back and remember – and the effect this has on the world of classical music more generally. 

Dr Lucy Walker musicologist
Fiona Maddocks critic, author