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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Britten Rarities
This collection brings together rarities and surprises from the Decca/Argo Britten discography, a collection notable as much for the infrequency with which much of this music is performed, as it is for the fact that many of these are world-premiere recordings of Britten’s music. The source material itself is extremely rare and virtually every recording represented here is, in its LP/EP format, a collector’s item, largely from the Argo catalogue. The all-vocal program opens with Voices for Today which Britten wrote to mark the 20th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. His devotion to excellent music for children is represented by a collection of songs, including five from Friday Afternoons and sung by the boy alto John Hahessy. It was Hahessy who was chosen over Norma Procter to sing the alto part in Britten’s Canticle II ‘Abraham and Isaac’. The earlier Procter/Pears/Britten version, recorded in 1957 but not released at the time in favour of the Hahessy recording; it is included on this collection. In later years, it was perhaps inevitable that other British singers would be compared with those who created and inspired Britten’s work, notably Ferrier, particularly after her early death. Pamela Bowden was one of those singers: she studied with Ferrier’s teacher, Roy Henderson, in London, and was hailed as the singer’s successor. She is represented by A Charm of Lullabies and it seemed sensible to include the remainder of the music on her original EP – two songs by Purcell – as bonus tracks for this release. A rare spoken-word appearance is made by author (and speaker) T.H. White, who reads an extract from his book The Sword in the Stone to an accompaniment of Britten’s music. “Britten's underrated United Nations anthem Voices for Today makes it onto disc at last, together with vintage recordings of artists the composer chose to work with.” BBC Music Magazine, October 2012 **** “John Hahessy has a splendid strong tone, almost brassy in forte, and a blessedly unaffected style: none of those cautious hoots and beautifully modulated vowels that are the bane of the English choirboy tradition. What is more he evidently has a real natural musicality, to judge by his moulding of phrases throughout this disc.” Gramophone Magazine (Friday Afternoons) “admirably read by the author, with a delightful mixture of sardonic humour and delicate description. The atmosphere is heightened by the music of Benjamin Britten, which brilliantly sharpens the word-pictures. […] It is all charming and will give great pleasure to young and old, for its story and the way it is told and for Britten's delicate score.” Gramophone Magazine (The Sword in the Stone) “Britten's songs were written in 1947 for Nancy Evans, and it might be thought that they need rather more mezzo than contralto tone. But Miss Bowden sings them with no apparent strain, and her characterisation of each one is [very] successful … Her voice is not yet as opulent as Kathleen Ferrier's, but her dramatic sense is possibly more developed.” Gramophone Magazine (A Charm of Lullabies, Purcell) “In advance of Britten’s centenary, a deep draught of the strong wine of his sensibility. The items are mostly first releases on CD, from the margins of his recorded oeuvre...The boy alto John Hahessy is sumptuous in songs from Friday Afternoons” Sunday Times, 22nd July 2012 | | | (Sorry, download not available in your country) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Britten: Complete Songs Volume 2
The second volume in the highly praised survey of all Britten’s songs for voice and piano. As before, the great song cycles rub shoulders with individual songs, and early works. There are world premier recordings here as well. Malcolm Martineau has gather together the cream of young British singers, and this second volume will be as eagerly awaited and successful as the first (ONYX4071). Philip Reid’s excellent booklet notes provide an incisive insight to Britten’s song writing – a form of composition that occupied the composer from his earliest compositions through to his last year. ‘This series promises to be a major addition to the Britten discography.’ Gramophone “Listening to this music leaves one in no doubt that Britten ranks among the very greatest song composers, blessed with an unerring instinct for matching word to note and the creation of poetic atmosphere, as well as producing some gloriously singable melodic lines.” The Telegraph, 3rd November 2011 “All the singers are supported by Malcolm Martineau's wonderfully characterised accompaniments...Allan Clayton and Elizabeth Atherton give superb accounts of the declamatory Michelangelo Sonnets and the settings of Auden's On This Island respectively, but Nicky Spence seems slightly self-conscious in the Scots dialect of the Soutar songs, and Benedict Nelson doesn't always summon sufficient weight of tone for the Blake cycle.” The Guardian, 24th November 2011 *** “it is fortuitous that such a range of talented young tenors is on hand...Whoever he is accompanying, pianist Malcolm Martineau is an expert guide. Though other individual recordings may be preferable, this second volume of Britten songs is again greater than the sum of its parts.” Gramophone Magazine, January 2012 “It's good to hear four quite different tenors responding to the song-cycles written for Peter Pears, and recreating each one in a totally distinctive way. Allan Clayton's feisty tenor takes on the Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, his voice both heroic and intimate. Nicky Spence's 'Who are these Children?' is the outstanding performance of this volume: he really sells these wonderful settings of the pacificist poet William Soutar, characterising their compassion.” BBC Music Magazine, January 2012 **** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Skaila Kang (harp), Alexander Wells (piano) New London Children's Choir, Ronald Corp “Ronald Corp directs bright, refreshing performances of a delightful collection of Britten choral pieces... A splendid bargain.” Penguin Guide | | | (also available to download from $6.00) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Bethlehem Downand other carols for Christmas
| | | (also available to download from $6.00) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Something's Coming
Nicholas Stenning (treble), Robert Bottone (piano) Winchester College Quiristers, Christopher Tolley Recorded June 2002 at Winchester College Chapel | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | A Century Of English Song, Volume 1
“O the pleasure of discovering these songs in performances as good as these” Gramophone Magazine | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Benjamin Britten 100 - The Complete* works* includes all works with opus numbers and all works commercially recorded to date. Includes folksongs, excludes Purcell realisations and Hindmarsh’s arrangements of incidental music to King Arthur and World of the Spirit
anon.: | God Save The Queen arr. Britten London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten | Britten: | Paul Bunyan Pop Wagner (Narrator), James Lawless (Paul Bunyan), Dan Dressen (Johnny Inkslinger), Elisabeth Comeaux Nelson (Tiny), Clifton Ware (Slim), James Bohn (Hel Helson), Phil Jorgenson (First Swede), Tim Dahl (Second Swede), Thomas Shaffer (Third Swede), Lawrence Weller (Fourth Swede), James McKeel (John Shears), James Westbrock (Western Union Boy), Maria Jette (Fido), Sue Herber (Moppet), Janis Hardy (Poppet) Orchestra & Chorus of the Plymouth Music Series, Philip Brunelle Peter Grimes Peter Pears (Peter Grimes), Claire Watson (Ellen Orford), James Pease (Balstrode), Jean Watson (Auntie), Raymond Nilsson (Bob Boles), Owen Brannigan (Swallow), Geraint Evans (Ned Keene), Lauris Elms (Mrs Sedley), David Kelly (Hobson), Marion Studholme (First Niece), Iris Kells (Second Niece), John Lanigan (Horace Adams) Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Benjamin Britten The Rape of Lucretia Janet Baker (Lucretia), Peter Pears (Male Chorus), Heather Harper (Female Chorus), Benjamin Luxon (Tarquinius), Bryan Drake (Junius), John Shirley-Quirk (Collatinus), Elizabeth Bainbridge (Bianca), Jenny Hill (Lucia) English Chamber Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Albert Herring Peter Pears (Albert), Sylvia Fisher (Lady Billows), Sheila Rex (Mum), John Noble (Mr Gedge), Catherine Wilson (Nancy), Joseph Ward (Sid), Johanna Peters (Florence Pike), Edgar Evans (Mr Upfold), April Cantelo (Miss Wordsworth), Owen Brannigan (Budd), Sheila Amit (Emmie), Anne Pashley (Cis), Stephen Terry (Harry) English Chamber Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Billy Budd Peter Glossop (Billy Budd), Peter Pears (Captain Vere), Michael Langdon (Claggart), John Shirley-Quirk (Mr Redburn), Bryan Drake (Mr Flint), David Kelly (Mr Ratcliffe), Kenneth MacDonald (Red Whiskers), David Bowman (Donald), Dennis Wicks (Dansker), Robert Tear (Novice), Robert Bowman (Squeak), Benjamin Luxon (Novice's Friend) London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Gloriana Josephine Barstow (Elizabeth), Philip Langridge (Essex), Della Jones (Lady Essex), Jonathan Summers (Charles Blount), Alan Opie (Cecil), Yvonne Kenny (Lady Rich), Bryn Terfel (Henry Cuffe), Richard van Allan (Walter Ralegh), Willard White (Ballad Singer), Janice Watson (Lady in Waiting), John Shirley-Quirk (Recorder of Norwich), John Mark Ainsley (Spirit of the Masque) Orchestra & Chorus of Welsh National Opera, Charles Mackerras The Turn of the Screw Peter Pears (Prologue/Quint), Jennifer Vyvyan (Governess), Joan Cross (Mrs Grose), Olive Dyer (Flora), David Hemmings (Miles), Arda Mandikian (Miss Jessel) English Opera Group, Benjamin Britten A Midsummer Night's Dream Elizabeth Harwood (Tytania), Alfred Deller (Oberon), Peter Pears (Lysander), Thomas Hemsley (Demetrius), Heather Harper (Helena), Josephine Veasey (Hermia), John Shirley-Quirk (Theseus), Helen Watts (Hippolyta), Owen Brannigan (Bottom), Norman Lumsden (Quince) London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Owen Wingrave Benjamin Luxon (Owen Wingrave), John Shirley-Quirk (Spencer Coyle), Sylvia Fisher (Miss Wingrave), Heather Harper (Mrs Coyle), Jennifer Vyvyan (Mrs. Julien), Peter Pears (Sir Philip Wingrave/Narrator), Janet Baker (Kate), Nigel Douglas (Lechmere) English Chamber Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Death in Venice Peter Pears (Aschenbach), John Shirley-Quirk (Traveller/Elderly Fop/Old Gondolier/Hotel Manager/Hotel Barber/Leader of the Players/Voice of Dionysus), James Bowman (Voice of Apollo) English Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford Noye's Fludde Owen Brannigan (Noye), Sheila Rex (Mrs Noye), Trevor Anthony (The Voice of God), David Pinto (Sem), Darien Angadi (Ham), Stephen Alexander (Jaffett), Caroline Clack (Mrs Sem), Marie Thérèse Pinto (Mrs Ham), Eileen O'Donovan (Mrs Jaffett) English Chamber Orchestra, An East Suffolk Children's Orchestra, Norman Del Mar The Golden Vanity Benjamin Britten (piano) Wandsworth School Boys' Choir, Russell Burgess Curlew River Peter Pears (Madwoman), John Shirley-Quirk (Ferryman), Harold Blackburn (Abbot), Bryan Drake (Traveller), Bruce Webb (Voice of Spirit) English Opera Group, Benjamin Britten The Burning Fiery Furnace Peter Pears (Nebuchadnezzar), Bryan Drake (Astrologer), John Shirley-Quirk (Ananias), Robert Tear (Misael), Stafford Dean (Azarias), Peter Leeming (Herald) English Opera Group, Benjamin Britten The Prodigal Son Peter Pears (Tempter/Abbot), John Shirley-Quirk (Father), Bryan Drake (Elder), Robert Tear (Younger Son) English Opera Group, Benjamin Britten The Little Sweep, Op. 45 David Hemmings (Sam), Jennifer Vyvyan (Rowan), Nancy Thomas (Miss Baggot), April Cantelo (Juliet Brook), Trevor Anthony (Tom/Black Bob), Peter Pears (Clem/Alfred), Michael Ingram (Gay Brook), Marilyn Baker (Sophie Brook), Robin Fairhurst (John Crome), Lyn Vaughan (Hugh Crome), Gabrielle Soskin (Tina Chrome) Orchestra of the English Opera Group, Alleyn's School Choir, Benjamin Britten Children's Crusade Op. 82 Benjamin Britten (piano) Russell Burgess The Prince of the Pagodas, Op. 57 Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden Plymouth Town – ballet BBC Symphony Orchestra, Grant Llewellyn Night Mail The Tocher (Rossini Suite) The King’s Stamp Negroes The Way to The Sea Telegrams Peace of Britain Men Behind The Meters Coal Face Love from a Stranger Johnson over Jordan Suite The Rescue of Penelope Parts 1 and 2 The Company of Heaven The Sword in the Stone Russian Funeral On the Frontier War Requiem, Op. 66 Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano), Peter Pears (tenor), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) & Simon Preston (organ) London Symphony Orchestra, Melos Ensemble, London Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Highgate School Choir & The Bach Choir, Benjamin Britten Spring Symphony, Op. 44 Jennifer Vyvyan, Norma Procter, Peter Pears Orchestra & Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Benjamin Britten Cantata Academica, Op. 62 Jennifer Vyvyan, Helen Watts, Peter Pears, Owen Brannigan London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Benjamin Britten Hymn to St Cecilia, Op. 27 London Symphony Chorus, George Malcolm St Nicolas, Op. 42 Peter Pears (tenor) Aldeburgh Festival Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Five Flower Songs, Op. 47 The Elizabethan Singers, Louis Halsey Cantata Misericordium, Op. 69 Peter Pears (tenor), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Benjamin Britten A Boy was Born, Op. 3 Corpus Christi Carol A Wealden Trio: Christmas Song of the Women Christ's Nativity A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28 The Holly and the Ivy Songs from "Friday Afternoons", Op. 7 Psalm 150, Op. 67 3 Two-Part Songs Two Two-Partsongs The birds A Hymn to the Virgin Jubilate Deo in E flat major (1934) Te Deum in C Advance Democracy Deus in adjutorium meum (Psalm 70) A.M.D.G. Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30 The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard (Text: The Oxford Book of Ballads) Chorale after an Old French Carol Festival Te Deum in E, Op. 32 Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge, George Guest A Wedding Anthem, Op. 46 Hymn to St. Peter, Op. 56a Antiphon, Op. 56b Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63 Westminster Cathedral Choir, George Malcolm Jubilate Deo in C major (1961) Brian Runnett (organ) Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge, George Guest Venite Exultemus Domino Choir of Trinity College, Richard Marlow A Hymn of Saint Columba Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge, George Guest Voices for Today, Op. 75 Cambridge University Musical Society Chorus, The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, David Willcocks Sacred and Profane, Op. 91 The Wilbye Consort, Peter Pears Welcome Ode Op. 95 Suffolk Schools' Orchestra, Jubilee Choir, Keith Shaw Praise We Great Men Alison Hargan (soprano), Mary King (mezzo), Robert Tear (tenor), Willard White (bass) City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Quatre Chansons Françaises Jill Gomez City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Our Hunting Fathers, Op. 8 Peter Pears (tenor) Ballad of Heroes, Op. 14 City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op. 31 Peter Pears (tenor), Barry Tuckwell (horn) London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Les illuminations, Op. 18 Sandrine Piau (soprano) Northern Sinfonia, Thomas Zehetmair Nocturne, Op. 60 for tenor, obbligato instruments and strings Peter Pears (tenor); Barry Tuckwell, Osian Ellis, Denis Blyth, Roger Lord, Alexander Murray, Gervase de Peyer, William Waterhouse London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Phaedra, Op. 93 Janet Baker (mezzo) English Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford Canticles I-V Peter Pears (tenor), Benjamin Britten (piano), John Shirley-Quirk (baritone), James Bowman (countertenor) A Birthday Hansel, Op. 92 The Heart of the Matter Tit for Tat On this Island, Op. 11 Cabaret Songs Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, Op. 22 The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op. 35 A Charm of Lullabies for mezzo-soprano and pianoforte, Op. 41 (1947) Winter Words, Op. 52 If it's ever Spring again (Hardy) The Children and Sir Nameless (Hardy) Songs from the Chinese, Op. 58 Six Hölderlin Fragments, Op. 61 Songs and Proverbs of William Blake, Op. 74 Ekho poeta (The Poet's Echo) Op. 76 Who are these children?, Op. 84 Dawtie’s Devotion The Gully Tradition Folksongs (selection) Sinfonietta, Op. 1 Simple Symphony, Op. 4 Soirées musicales (after Rossini), Op. 9 Matinées musicales (after Rossini), Op. 24 Rondo Concertante for piano and strings Untitled Fragment for strings Two Portraits Double Concerto Movements for a Clarinet Concerto for clarinet and strings Piano Concerto, Op. 13 Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 15 Mont Juic – Suite of Catalan Dances, Op.12 (with Lennox Berkeley) Young Apollo, Op. 16 Canadian Carnival Overture, Op. 19 Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20 Diversions for piano (left hand) and orchestra, Op. 21 Scottish Ballad, Op. 26 An American Overture Prelude & Fugue for 18 strings, Op. 29 The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34 Men of Goodwill (Variations on a Christmas Carol for orchestra) Variations on an Elizabethan Theme Occasional Overture, Op. 38 Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 68 In memoriam Dennis Brain for 4 horns and strings The Building of the House Overture Suite on English Folk Tunes 'A Time there was', Op. 90 Lachrymae for viola & strings, Op. 48a Reflection for viola & piano Elegy for unaccompanied viola Lachrymae for viola & piano, Op. 48 Suite Op. 6 Reveille Two Insect Pieces for Oboe and Piano Temporal Variations for oboe & piano Six Metamorphoses after Ovid for solo oboe, Op. 49 Suites for cello solo, Nos. 1-3 Nocturnal after John Dowland, Op. 70 Suite for harp in C major, Op. 83 String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94 Temas 'Sacher' String Quartet in F Major (1928) Miniature Suite Rhapsody for String Quartet Quartettino Phantasy in F minor for string quintet Alla Marcia Three Divertimenti String Quartet in D major (1931) String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 25 String Quartet No. 2 in C major, Op. 36 Phantasy Quartet for Oboe & String Trio, Op. 2 Alpine Suite for Recorder Trio Scherzo for Recorder Quartet Fanfare for St. Edmondsbury for three trumpets Lamentation - Voluntary on a Theme of Thomas Tallis They Walk Alone: Prelude Village Organist's Piece Prelude & Fugue on a Theme of Vittoria Gemini Variations Op. 73 Introduction and Rondo alla burlesca, op.23 No.1 Mazurka Elegiaca op.23 no.2 Five Waltzes for piano A Little Idyll Three Character Pieces Variations (12) on a Theme Two Lullabies for Two Pianos Holiday Diary Op. 5 for solo piano Sonatina romantica (1940) Night Pieces (Notturno) for piano Variations for piano solo | Gay: | The Beggar's Opera Yvonne Kenny (Lucy Lockit), Ann Murray (Mrs Peachum), Anne Collins (Mrs Peachum), Philip Langridge (Macheath), John Rawnsley (Lockit ), Robert Lloyd (Peachum), Christopher Gillett (Filch), Nuala Willis (Mrs Trapes), Declan Mulholland (Beggar) Steuart Bedford | Purcell: | Sweeter than Roses (from Pausanius, the Betrayer of his Country, Z585) arr. Britten |
CD 62 Making Music with Britten – A Memoir Written, produced and narrated by Jon Tolansky CD 63 War Requiem Rehearsal CD 64 Historic Recordings (1944 – 1953) Including the first recording of the Serenade, Op. 31 (1944), Mazurka elegiaca (with Clifford Curzon) and Sinfonia da Requiem (1953 Danish State Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Britten) CD 65 Supplementary Recordings (1955 – 1989) Including 5 songs from Friday Afternoons (with John Hahessy and Britten accompanying) and the original 3rd movement from the Piano Concerto. DVD The 1967 Recording of the Burning Fiery Furnace – a film by Tony Palmer
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of England’s greatest composer since Henry Purcell, Decca Classics presents the ultimate Britten box Britten enjoyed a unique relationship with Decca, recording most of his key works for the label. Decca’s 1963 set of the War Requiem remains one of the fastest-selling classical releases of all time. The recordings not in the Decca catalogue have been licensed from other companies including EMI, Virgin Classics, Naxos and Warner – a total of 18 rights holders have assisted to make this extraordinary achievement possible, plus the endorsement & support of the Britten-Pears Foundation. Benjamin Britten was born 22nd November 1913, the feast day of St Cecilia, patron saint of music. Over four intensely creative decades he went on to publish over 100 works, of which the most important dominated and shaped their respective genres – opera with Peter Grimes, the choral oratorio with War Requiem, music to inspire newcomers (Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra), the Song Cycle (Serenade for Tenor Horn and Strings). The sheer range is astonishing. Britten is the subject of a colossal campaign, Britten100, under the auspices of the Britten-Pears Foundation who have invested £6.5 million in further driving international awareness of the composer. This 65-CD edition is guaranteed to appeal to Britten enthusiasts worldwide. · Individually numbered, limited edition (1 to 3,000) · 208-page hardback book including:- - A gallery of original LP sleeves, arranged chronologically from 1953 onwards - Copious Recording session pictures and beautiful Aldeburgh landscapes newly photographed - ‘Choosing a Record Company’ by discographer Philip Stuart - ‘Ben – A Tribute to Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)’ by John Culshaw (originally published in Gramophone Magazine, February 1977) - Peter Glossop’s Memoir on the role of Billy Budd and working with Britten - Complete alphabetical index of works included in the edition. · The set is organised into 4 main sections, each with its own individual book: The Operas; Stage & Screen; Voices; Instruments · Each book contains a detailed article by Andrew Huth, full track listings and recording information. · 4 bonus CDs - including a series of interviews by Jon Tolansky, first recordings and rarities never before released on CD and the War Requiem rehearsal sequence · New War Requiem hi-res transfer from original master tapes · The set also features the Tony Palmer film on the making of the 1967 recording of The Burning Fiery Furnace, an unrivalled look at John Culshaw and the Decca team at work
Extra postage costs:
As this set is very heavy (we guess around 5kg) we unfortunately need to charge some extra postage costs to certain countries.
UK and most of Western Europe: No extra charges - Normal rates apply.
Rest of World: Varies by country. Please contact us for further details. | 
| Decca - 4785364 (CD - 65 discs) Normally: $270.75 Special: $243.75 |
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