A message from the President of the Society

Britain’s musical world is fast approaching an exciting and significant landmark, the centenary of the birth of Sir Lennox Berkeley, C.B.E., which will fall in 2003. It is widely recognised that he wrote some of the most distinctive music of the last century, notable for its stylish elegance in a rich range of forms from opera to orchestral, from song to solo. Every note in Lennox’s music is there because it has to be and nothing is ever artificially inflated. That is partly why it is so well loved by so many of us.

Visit the special Centenary website www.berkeley2003.co.uk

The Lennox Berkeley Society has been formed in order that his many friends and admirers can work together to ensure that next year, and then beyond, there can be significant celebration of Berkeley’s music and to encourage fresh performances and recordings of It by choirs and orchestras, by opera companies and recitalists. Can we hope that you will want to join us in seizing this opportunity to ensure that the treasures which Lennox has left us will live on and sing their own special song both during his centenary year and for long thereafter? Do please come and join us. We know you will find it a very rewarding experience.