Benjamin Britten , who celebrates his fiftieth birthday on 22nd November , rehearsing with the singers taking part in the concert performance of his opera ' Gloriana ' at the Royal Festival Hall . The performance is being given by the Polyphonia Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Choir - conducted by Brian Fairfax - as a tribute to Benjamin Britten on his 50th birthday . Picture shows ; Benjamin Britten ( left ) rehearsing the principal singers - back row , left :- Colin Graham , Bryan Drake , Joan Edwards , Peter Peers and Thomas Hemsley . Front row from left :- Forbes Robinson , Sylvia Fisher and Jennifer Vyvyan . 20th November 1963