{"product_id":"16127-britten-benjamin-autograph-note-about-the-1969-snape-maltings-fire","title":"Britten, Benjamin. (1913–1976) Autograph Note about the 1969 Snape Maltings Fire","description":"Autograph note from the important British composer. 2 pp., n.d. [1969]. Text, in full: \"Dear Jim, Sorry you missed the fairly universal news of our fire in June—it was pretty awful, but we coped some how—\u0026amp; now have the unenviable task of raising lots of lovely money! Glad things go well with you \u0026amp; your new house. Love to all the family. Yours ever, Ben.\" On a letterhead notecard. Small surface losses along blank upper edge, else fine. 6 x 4 inches (15 x 10.5 cm).\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eThe concert hall at Snape Maltings in Aldeburgh, purpose-built for the Aldeburgh Festival and opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1967, was destroyed in a fire on the opening night of the 1969 season. Despite the loss of Britten's Steinway grand, a priceless Grancino double bass, and the complete costumes for the season's new production of \u003ci\u003eIdomeneo\u003c\/i\u003e, Britten and Pears managed to regroup and find alternate venues for most of the season's performances. After a huge effort, they also had the hall rebuilt in time for the opening of the 1970 season. The hall's phoenix-like resurrection has become part of the legend of the Aldeburgh Festival.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Schubertiade Music and Arts","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46093607108767,"sku":"16127","price":600.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/4826\/7423\/files\/Britten_ALS_16127_2.jpg?v=1722189150","url":"https:\/\/www.schubertiademusic.com\/products\/16127-britten-benjamin-autograph-note-about-the-1969-snape-maltings-fire","provider":"Schubertiade Music and Arts","version":"1.0","type":"link"}