Illustration to Brittien's 'Variation on a Theme of Frank Bridge'
My personal Britten's adventure began a few years ago when I painted composer's portrait, which was then purchased by the Ipswich School. A new music wing was being opened in the name of Benjamin Britten. Julian Lloyd Webber was present at the opening ceremony.
Benjamin Britten portrait
Benjamin Britten Variations and the artist
Julian Lloyd Webber and portrait of Benjamin Britten by Mariusz Kaldowski
Unveiling of Benjamin Britten portrait in Ipswich School
article on unveiling of portrait of Benjamin Britten
Jullian Lloyd Webber with Benjamin Britten portrait
Illustrations to Britten's variations painting stages
Illustrations to Britten's variations painting stages
Illustrations to Britten's variations painting stages
Illustrations to Britten's variations in artist's studio
Illustrations to Britten's variations in artist's studio
In the beginning of 2016 after a chat with Agnieszka Duczmal, a conductor and director of the Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra 'Amadeus', about corroboration on a new music-art project, she suggested I painted a large illustration to one of the Britten's works. This is when I revisited the composer and his music again.
Eventually, in October 2016 I finished painting "The Illustrations to Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge'. It is a large frieze of 1.5 x 8m (it it formed of 8 canvases measuring 1.5m x 1m each).
The painting begins and ends with two portraits. On the left is a portrait of Frank Bridge, Britten's teacher and mentor, to whom the composer dedicated this work. The frieze ends with portriat of Britten himself, as a young man, at an age when he wrote the Variations. In between the two of them I painted what I found and felt the music was emanating with.