George Benjamin

As a wealth of British theater and opera maestros cross the Channel to perform at French festivals this summer, many are worried about the state of live arts back home.

The combined impact of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation and a Conservative government that sees live arts as a low priority have all taken their toll.

Emre Şener is among the composers to take part in the '200 Pieces' project that will mark the bicentenary celebrations of the Royal Academy of Music in the U.K.

The Royal Academy of Music, one of the world's top five music schools, has commissioned 200 musicians to compose pieces to mark the occasion.