This is a summary of 1947 in music in the United Kingdom. Events 11–15 June – The first Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is held in Wales, with W. S. Gwynn Williams as its musical director. 19 June – Kathleen Ferrier appears at Glyndebourne in Gluck's opera Orfeo ed Euridice. July – Conductor Malcolm Sargent is invested with a knighthood for his services to music. August – Edmund Rubbra begins work on his Symphony No. 5 in B flat, Op. 63. 22 August – The first Edinburgh International Festival opens. Its co-founder and first director is Sir Rudolf Bing. The first Festival concentrates mainly on classical music, a highlight being concerts given by the Vienna Philharmonic, reunited with their erstwhile conductor Bruno Walter, who had left Europe after the Nazi occupation of his homeland. 3 November – The Royal Variety Performance, held at the London Palladium and attended by King George VI, includes performances by Bud Flanagan, Wilson, Keppel and Betty, Borrah Minnevitch's Harmonica Rascals, Valerie Tandy and Gracie Fields. December – Benjamin Britten and singers Joan Cross and Peter Pears combine with designer John Piper and producer Eric Crozier to found the English Opera Group. date unknown Jack Brymer becomes principal clarinettist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Gracie Fields hosts Our Gracie's Working Party on BBC radio; in the series, she visits twelve towns (beginning with Rochdale), compering and performing in a live show of music and entertainment, with local talents on the bill. Popular music Anne Shelton – "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" Lizbeth Webb – "This is My Lovely Day" (by Vivian Ellis, from the musical Bless the Bride) Classical music: new works Lennox Berkeley – Piano Concerto in B flat Doreen Carwithen (Mary Alwyn) – ODTAA (One Damn Thing After Another) Vivian Ellis – Coronation Scot Ralph Vaughan Williams – Introduction and Fugue for two pianos Opera Benjamin Britten – Albert Herring Film and Incidental music Brian Easdale – Black Narcissus, starring Deborah Kerr and David Farrar. Musical theatre 7 April – Together Again, a London revue starring The Crazy Gang, opens at the Victoria Palace Theatre and runs for 1566 performances. 26 April – Bless the Bride (music by Vivian Ellis, book and lyrics by A. P. Herbert), produced by Charles B. Cochran, opens at the Adelphi Theatre and runs for 886 performances. It stars Georges Guétary, Lizbeth Webb, Anona Winn and Brian Reece. 7