Though not an artist by trade, he has long harboured a passion for music, and, discovering the dearth of musical pieces based on the Bayeux Tapestry, took on the endeavour himself.
‘It was just an idle thought I had – when I realised that Normandy was going to be celebrating the tapestry returning next year, I wondered if I could find any work based off the tapestry, and I couldn’t find anything,’ he said.
The Bayeux tapestry has been housed in the Bayeux Museum in Normandy since 1983, but it will be moved to the British Museum from September this year until July 2027 to facilitate the Bayeux Museum’s refurbishment.
Hoping to help create a musical work based on the tapestry in time for its return, Mr de la Rue contacted Guernsey-born musician Andrew Lawrence-King – a harpist and conductor with a speciality in early music.
Together, they have collaborated on putting the musical project together, with Mr Lawrence-King composing a medieval-style work using the 12th century poetic account of the Battle of Hastings, ‘Roman de Brut’, as lyrics. The poem gives the work a deeper tie to the Channel Islands, as it was composed by Jerseyman Robert Wace.
‘We’re hoping to bring to life the whole story of the tapestry,’ said Mr de la Rue.
Now he is hoping to bring even more islanders into the project, as he searches for a 2D animator or digital artist to help bring the piece to life visually as well.
He intends to have figures and scenes from the tapestry animated, all rooted in the original embroidery. He is also open to seeing volunteers from across all the Channel Islands participate in the project.
Mr de la Rue and Mr Lawrence-King are hoping that, in its final iteration, Bayeux Tapestry: The Opera will be seen in concert in Guernsey, Jersey the UK, and most particularly Normandy, alongside the return of the tapestry to its refurbished museum next year.