The Aldeburgh Festival


Creation


Britten helped found the Aldeburgh Festival in 1948. Many of his works were first performed there, including Let's Make an Opera (1949), Noye's Fludde (1958), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1960), and the three church parables (1964, 1966, 1968). After 1964 most of Britten's works were written for and performed first at the Aldeburgh Festival. After Britten's death, the cellist Rostropovich became an art director for the festival.

The Maltings


Near Aldeburgh, in Snape, is the famous concert hall "The Maltings." The hall got its name from its former use; it was previously a barley to malt processing plant. Britten had the interior floors of the building removed to make room for the actual hall, which seats eight hundred. The Maltings was opened 2 June 1967 by the Queen.

The Maltings was internationally known and well loved. This was proven during the Festival in 1969, when it burned down. Donations poured in for a fund to rebuild it. It was rebuilt in time for the 1970 Festival, with substantial improvements.


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