Punch up over Benjamin Britten

[gradus]

Classical composers don't make the front page splash very often but Benjamin Britten has managed it today, albeit only in the local daily paper for Suffolk the East Anglian Daily Times. 'An artistic genius and the greatest 20th century composer ...Or a wartime coward whose music compares unfavourably to 'gormless' George Formby? Read the opposing views - and have your say.'
Over the past few weeks the paper has published increasingly rancorous exchanges of letters from those on both sides of the argument. I can't find an online link to the two articles but I am sure you get the drift.
Is there any othe major British music figure that attracts such diametrically opposed views?

[Simon]

Classical composers don't make the front page splash very often but Benjamin Britten has managed it today, albeit only in the local daily paper for Suffolk the East Anglian Daily Times. 'An artistic genius and the greatest 20th century composer ...Or a wartime coward whose music compares unfavourably to 'gormless' George Formby? Read the opposing views - and have your say.'
Over the past few weeks the paper has published increasingly rancorous exchanges of letters from those on both sides of the argument. I can't find an online link to the two articles but I am sure you get the drift.
Is there any othe major British music figure that attracts such diametrically opposed views?

As with so many of these stories, there's no doubt a bit of truth on both sides, exaggerated beyond all reason to make a point. Happens elsewhere, too...

Don't know about any other figure attracting similar coverage, as it doesn't seem as if there's any figure in the British musical world today of Britten's standing - it's arguably a testament to BB's stature that he can still produce such headlines.

[amateur51]

Classical composers don't make the front page splash very often but Benjamin Britten has managed it today, albeit only in the local daily paper for Suffolk the East Anglian Daily Times. 'An artistic genius and the greatest 20th century composer ...Or a wartime coward whose music compares unfavourably to 'gormless' George Formby? Read the opposing views - and have your say.'
Over the past few weeks the paper has published increasingly rancorous exchanges of letters from those on both sides of the argument. I can't find an online link to the two articles but I am sure you get the drift.
Is there any othe major British music figure that attracts such diametrically opposed views?

I'll need a bit more guidance, gradus - all I've come up with so far is :

"Bury St Edmunds: 'Gas mains work in Crown Street causes traffic disruption'"

[salymap]

Malcolm Sargent was reviled as being a man who took conducting lightly, because he had lots of friends, some royal [Oh NO !] and took time away from music.

The other camp saw him as the saviour of the proms and the greatest musician ever.

Neither was right- he worked hard, studied scores and marked parts and travelled taking Sibelius,lotsof British music, to farflung places.

He was wonderful with choirs, goton with most orchestras in the tiume that I knew him,
and soloists often requested him for ther next recording.

So, like Britten, he could arouse strong feelings. Don't let Mary Chambers see those papers, it's time to forget such things and value what we have of the recordings from the past.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

I can find this on the data system kindly provided by my employer and usually misused by me, but posting them here would probably incur the wrath of the copyright police. The EADT website doesn't seem to store letters but they are somewhat along the lines of "Less than Happy of Lowestoft".

[Flay]

All I could find was this: "Aspall launches new cider to commemorate centenary of composer Benjamin Britten"

http://www.eadt.co.uk/business/farming/debenham_aspall_launches_new_cider_to_commemorate_centenary_of_composer_benjamin_britten_1_2235178

Note that the article is written by a Sarah Chambers

Any relation, Mary?

[DracoM]

Walton as divisive?

[VodkaDilc]

Classical composers don't make the front page splash very often but Benjamin Britten has managed it today, albeit only in the local daily paper for Suffolk the East Anglian Daily Times. 'An artistic genius and the greatest 20th century composer ...Or a wartime coward whose music compares unfavourably to 'gormless' George Formby? Read the opposing views - and have your say.'
Over the past few weeks the paper has published increasingly rancorous exchanges of letters from those on both sides of the argument. I can't find an online link to the two articles but I am sure you get the drift.
Is there any othe major British music figure that attracts such diametrically opposed views?

As my dentist says, when I quote the latest article I've read in the paper about old fillings causing all manner of ailments: "It must have been a very slow day for news!"

[VodkaDilc]

Walton as divisive?

What could anyone have against WW?