Will Waspe
The Yorkshire branch of an anti-EEC group called British Business for World Markets thought it would be a good idea to put one of their dissenting advertisements in the programme of the Fanfare for Europe concert being held at Leeds Town Hall on January 11. "Enjoy the music," they said in effect, " before you have to face it." But the organising company (artistic director,
the Earl of Harewood) politely turned it down. Evidently no' note of
disharmony will be allowed to impinge upon the general euphoria.
Britten for Britain
Lord Harewood's principal interest, of course, is the Sadler's Wells Opera, which makes its special contribution to the ' Fanfare ' on January 8 at the Coliseum. I am surprised — but quite pleasantly so — to note that the occasion has been chosen not for any lip service to operatic internationalism but to mount the most chauvinistic item in the company's repertoire,' Benjamin Britten's Gioriana. I applaud the decision, which has clearly not been made with a view to attracting the largest possible audience (G/oriana has never been a box-office draw) or to pleasing the continentals (it was roundly booed on its Olympics appearance in Munich).
Fingers crossed
The ' Fanfare ' begins with a celebra-tory programme at the Royal Opera House on January 3 (evening dress and decorations please). It is the appearance of Lord Olivier in this show that gives rise to most anxiety. Admirers still recall with embarrassment his contribution to the memorial concert for the late Stephen Arlen, when Olivier decided that some schoolboy verses, to popular hymn tunes wouldbest serve the occasion — to the acute discomfort of the audience. I gather he has been dissuaded from the same offering this time.
Once for all , London's Festival Ballet, booked for ' Fanfare ' on January 9 at the Royal • Festival Hall, have a programme which is evidently very specially for the occasion. They're doing four new ballets (by Bejart, Darrell, Hynd and Moreland), and you might have thought they would have sufficient confidence in them to give them further airings in their season at the New Victoria. For that, however, they revert to familiar potboilers.
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