HARRISON BIRTWISTLE
RIP HARRY. So many tributes to the great man in the media today (19 April, 2022). My memories go back a long way. I was privileged to be invited by Harry to attend the rehearsals for the first performances of Gawain and The Minotaur, and wrote essays on these for the ROH, publishing diaries on their production. I wrote on The Second Mrs Kong for Opera magazine and talked with Harry about The Last Supper as he was writing it. I visited him and Sheila at their home in Docklands, then Mere, and attended concerts, workshops and lectures with him and heard his comments! I saw him receive doctorates from City University and the University of Oxford (pictured). A hugely influential composer of great integrity; a warm and kindly man with forthright opinions. He is already missed.