News about Benjamin Britten

A singer who halted a concert after spotting young audience members on their phones insisted he 'wasn't making a protest' but urged the orchestra to reverse its policy allowing filming during shows. Renowned tenor Ian Bostridge stopped an ongoing performance of Benjamin Britten's Les Illuminations at Birmingham Symphony Hall last month, criticising audience members using their phones during the show. Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Bostridge clarified that he 'wasn't making a protest' but was simply unable to concentrate due to the distraction. After the third song in Benjamin Britten's Les Illuminations on April 17, Bostridge halted his performance, citing distraction from at least two individuals filming. He said: 'You're looking at the audience and it's very interrupting and distracting to have phones being held up. It breaks the spell.'

Mark Messenger, 59, an acclaimed violinist and conductor, resigned as Head of Strings at the Royal College of Music (RCM) during his disciplinary hearing. He had been suspended since last year following allegations about his behaviour. The college has refused to give details about the complaints. Last night Mr Messenger said: 'I decided to resign due to health issues that were a direct consequence of how the RCM had pursued this case against me. 'I had no confidence in a process that did not afford me my basic rights of being able to defend myself, nor in the outcome of a meeting that was not in possession of all the facts. 'Any implication that I resigned because of the outcome of the disciplinary process or that the college terminated my employment is entirely erroneous.'

Benjamin Britten's War Requiem was first recorded in January 1963 with the support of boys from the exclusive Highgate School's choir. Now, 60 years old, the hunt is on to locate the original choristers (top right) so they can be brought together to watch a restored version of the film. The former choir boys, who will now be in their 70s, are being called on by Decca Records, who have produced the latest version. The original recording was performed in Holborn's Kingsway Hall, which was demolished in 1998. In the first five months after its debut in May 1963, the production, which combined the traditional Latin Requiem Mass with Owen's touching terms, sold 200,000 copies. Also shown: the original master tape (inset) of War Requiem's recording at Kingsway Hall; members of the Bach Choir perform with Russian soprano Galina Vishnevskaya during the recording (bottom right).

Lady Prudence Penn, who was also known as Prue, served as the Queen Mother's lady-in-waiting. She and the Queen, who were born 12 weeks apart, married in the same year and had nine great-grandchildren together. Sir Eric Penn, the Lord Chamberlain's Comptroller, died in 1993. His uncle served as groom-in-waiting to King Geroge VI and then as his personal secretary and treasurer to Queen Mother. David and Rory's sons were both page of honor to the Queen.

PATRICK MARMION: Susan Stroman's coronation is obviously in order. She may be averse to such regal splendor, but her triumph of the 1992 Broadway hit Crazy For You (for which she was the original choreographer) secures her place among musical royalty. The only issue - now in the West End - that wowed Chichester last year - starring Charlie Stemp and Carly Anderson - might have been too polished for its own good. A few fluffs or falls may have made it more human. But it never puts a note or a foot wrong.