Aldeburgh Festival 2026: Welcome to the Orchestra

Aldeburgh Festival 2026 invites you to experience “Welcome to the Orchestra,” a spirited concert film that journeys through Benjamin Britten’s dazzling late‑career masterpieces. Opening with the jubilant **Welcome Ode**—Britten’s final composition for the Queen’s 1977 Jubilee visit to Ipswich and scored for a children’s chorus and full orchestra—the film bursts with an outdoorsy, upbeat energy that celebrates the spirit of Ipswich itself. Next, the camera turns to Britten’s legendary **The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra** (Op. 34), a 1946 work created to accompany a British government educational film and later featured in the Oscar‑nominated film *Moonrise Kingdom*. Each instrument is showcased in a playful Purcell‑inspired dialogue, solo and in intricate combinations that vividly bring the symphony to life. A new narration by celebrated actor Rory Kinnear infuses fresh vitality into this beloved classic, echoing the excitement Britten himself reportedly felt at its first recording. Ideal for families and local schoolchildren, the performance welcomes young audiences from schools and communities—tickets are limited and on general sale now. Explore details and secure your spot today for this vibrant celebration of Britten’s creative peak at the end of his life.