Billed as the biggest-ever global celebration of a British composer, Britten 100 has already been gathering considerable steam in anticipation of the centenary of Benjamin Brittens birth. Leading opera companies and orchestras in 140 cities across 30 countries are participating, and events will go far beyond the music itself two major biographies are being published, and the Royal Mint is even producing a new 50p coin depicting Britten. As the composer of some of the most approachable serious music of the 20th century, Brittens art has world-wide appeal, and international premieres will take place from Chile to China. All 14 of Brittens major operas will be performed in the UK, and next summers Aldeburgh Festival sees a production of Peter Grimes "on location" on Aldeburgh Beach, plus landmark stagings of all three Church Parables in Orford Church, the scene of their premieres. In the autumn, Opera North will present a season of four Britten operas, but the most eagerly anticipated event is a rare new production of Gloriana at Covent Garden, where the work fell flat at the time of Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation. Expect a different reception now for Richard Joness staging and Susan Bullock in the title role. For more details see .

Women who engaged in at least an hour of vigorous physical exercise every day had a 25% lower risk.

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