Celebrating the life
of Ben Luxon

Photo courtesy of Cornwall Live

Benjamin Luxon CBE, who died in July 2024, was a torchbearer in the campaign for a hall in Truro, and a founder of Hall for Cornwall. Considered one of the nation's greatest opera singers, Ben was a champion of culture in Cornwall, and an HfC cornerstone, he will be greatly missed.

During the theatre's transformation, Ben was celebrated as an HfC 'Local Hero'. As part of this tribute, a seat was dedicated to him in the new Cornwall Playhouse. Commenting at the time Ben said "I am so delighted and honoured to have a physical presence in this beautiful new Hall For Cornwall, especially as my involvement in creating the old Hall was one of the high points in my life...”

Sarah Smith, Director and General Manager during the transition from City Hall to Hall for Cornwall said

"He was a larger than life character who always has a twinkle in his eye even if he was annoyed with something……..he did so much to open doors for us but actually started the campaign for the Hall for Cornwall coming to the County whenever he could to support the campaign.  He was a wonderful baritone singer who was so famous in his day and certainly got us the national focus which we needed."

- Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith during the 'A Space for You' campaign for Hall for Cornwall, 1994

Sarah Smith helped to establish the HfC Trust, and ran the 'A Space for you' campaign. Read more about Sarah Smith's story here.

Chris Warner, the first Artistic Director of Hall for Cornwall in 1997, commented:

"He gave so much of his time to the Hall when he didn’t have much time to give. He chewed on that bone and helped us push and shove for nearly ten years until finally he stood on the stage on the opening night, declaring it to be a 'haze of euphoria...disbelief that we'd actually done it.'"

 

- Chris Warner

Chris Warner with Benjamin Luxon CBE and Ann Jennings. Photo courtesy of Derek Williams, read more here.

Finally, Bert Biscoe, Gorsedh Bard, poet, historian and Truro City Councillor, reflects on Benjamin Luxon's strong Cornish roots:

"Above all his stardom, his acclaim and his wonderful voice, Ben Luxon was,  in essence, a Cornishman, and a Camborne boy for whom a chorus of Trelawny would awake the deepest emotion, even when he was ensconced in the Arctic or in Japan, or in an opera house anywhere. He was also a deeply imbued Methodist, whose musical skills were awoken in Chapel - he never forgot that. He was a generous and knowledgeable man who wanted whatever he was working on with others to be the best everybody could make it - he threw his passion, reputation and charm into the battle to save Truro City Hall and to create the theatre - Gwariji Kernow - we have today. I worked with him once or twice - the last time in Milwaukee - his musicality led him to suggest that a seventh became a minor - and there was the song, transformed. He was a brave and steadfast man, and Cornwall, music , Methoidy, gardening, the World is a poorer place without him - his recordings and films however will inspire and move for as long as they are able to be seen. Rest in Song, old pard!"

 

- Bert Biscoe