Nicholas Clark

Wisdom from Robert Louis Stevenson (b otd 1850): You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. An aim in life is the only fortune worth finding. A friend is a gift you give yourself. That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much.

Join us next Friday as we celebrate Benjamin Britten’s birthday, born 111 years ago in 1913. There will be a special display from the Archive to mark this special occasion, plus a slice of birthday muffin for each visitor! Find out more: bit.ly/3YOckGS

Take time out from the everyday with a visit to our famous second-hand book sale this Sunday 11 November. Browse the books, enjoy the House and then treat yourself to #cake in our lovely Tea Room. Book now elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk/events/second-…

@imanimosley Take care Imani. Concentrate on getting better, especially on what I'm sure many are feeling is a particularly horrible day.

The Good Samaritan, after Delacroix, 1890

The scribes on all the people shove And bawl allegiance to the state, But they who love the greater love Lay down their life; they do not hate. Wilfred Owen

We celebrate the life and work of Benjamin Luxon, the first Owen Wingrave on TV & LP recording, who died a week ago. A magnificent interpreter of Britten’s music.

@vangoghmuseum Signs of how crucial Theo was to his brother's life and art, and of Vincent's genius.

📖 Vincent responded to Theo's encouragement to use more colour by sending him a still life featuring an off-white Bible against a black backdrop, with a vibrant yellow-brown foreground and lemon-yellow highlights. He made this painting in a single day!

Born #OTD 100 years ago, Sir Neville Marriner, who made several fine recordings of Britten, is seen here during the 1988 Aldeburgh Festival rehearsing Schnittke's Concerto Grosso No. 3 with the Britten-Pears Orchestra. Photo: Nigel Luckhurst

@StevenIsserlis @ChazzaSteinway Not a great water colourist, but he did produce a reasonable pencil sketch of Blythburgh Church in Suffolk, which you can see here brittenpearsarts.org/news/archive-t…

@ChazzaSteinway Yes - very fine pianist and conductor, a brilliant organiser, and even a competent (apparently) violist; just like Mendelssohn! (Though as far as I know, Britten didn't paint watercolours.)

Benjamin Britten b otd 110 years ago! A true master of music. "Composing is like driving down a foggy road toward a house. Slowly you see more details of the house-the color of the slates and bricks, the shape of the windows. The notes are the bricks and the mortar of the house."

@StevenIsserlis @ChazzaSteinway Yes, on the 4 November 1946 with the Zorian String Quartet at EMI Studio No. 3, Abbey Road.

@ChazzaSteinway I seem to remember that he recorded (on 2nd viola) the one note in Purcell's Fantasia on one note.

Wishing a happy 110th birthday to Benjamin Britten, born OTD in 1913 🎉

Benjamin Britten b. OTD 1913. Even at 18 he seldom took time off from composing, as his diary entry about scoring his ballet Plymouth Town attests.

Here's my collect for Benjamin Britten O.M.,C.H., born on this date (St Cecilia's Day) 1913. His music is woven into me, my memories of place & story & loved-ones. @BBCRadio3 @PetrocTrelawny @BrittenOfficial @NicholasClarkBB @sarah_bardwell @stanley_wells

@ianarchiebeck @stanley_wells @BrittenOfficial Absolutely. And another of the legacies of that friendship was the extraordinary combined bookplate Reynolds Stone designed, engraved and printed at Britten's request for Pears' 60th birthday -- a major contribution to their Library.

@NicholasClarkBB @stanley_wells @BrittenOfficial A nice conjunction here, the Penguin series at that time had an engraving and border by Reynolds Stone who was a friend of B Britten and P Pears

Celebrating First Folio Day with materials for an adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Britten's well-annotated copy of the play & Pears' synopsis. The opera premiered during the 1960 Aldeburgh Festival. @BrittenOfficial #Folio400

Visit our Archive this Saturday and Sunday for a display on Benjamin Britten’s Serenade and other works being performed and celebrated this Britten Weekend. Find out more and book tickets through the link below: bit.ly/48Kuuh6

‘The setting sun, & the music at the close’ accompanied thoughts yesterday evening on the brilliant performances, talks, art & music at this year’s celebration of the Bard at the Jubilee Hall. Well done to all at Shake Festival @SHAKE_Festival @stanley_wells @pauledmondson

It takes a village 💪 There are over 100 cast and crew involved in #ENOPeterGrimes with some of the largest set changes in theatre. This quick set change happens in under 6 mins and in complete silence while the audience experiences one of Britten’s spinetingling sea interludes.

We are open this weekend to enjoy the house, garden and Archive, as well as the remaining warm weather! Follow the link below to book your visit: bit.ly/45t2dZK