Statues have been much in the news of late, but at their best can play a powerful part in helping history live among modernity, an engaging element of urban architecture reminding us of our inheritance. Composers’ statues – or sculptures, to see it more broadly – have a particularly valuable role, because while for Gramophone readers music is an intrinsic part of life, that’s not true for everyone, so statues can offer an imaginative opportunity to place it firmly in the fabric of society. Excellent examples include Edward Elgar outside Hereford Cathedral, leaning on his beloved bike Mr Phoebus; an elegantly attired ...
