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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Britten: The Rape of Lucretia, and Phaedra
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 Phaedra, Op. 93 Janet Baker English Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford |
“two outstanding performances by Dame Janet Baker, recorded at the peak of her career...Luxon makes the selfish Tarquinius into a living character...The seductive beauty of the writing - Britten then at his early peak - is caught splendidly” Penguin Guide, 2010 edition *** | | | (Sorry, download not available in your country) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Edward Gardner conducts Britten
The repertoire on this CD is written across a period of more than forty-five years, from the year Britten entered the Royal College of Music at the age of sixteen, to the very last year of his life. The works are performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and they are conducted by Edward Gardner, whose Britten release in March 2011 (CHAN10658) was made Disc of the Month in the April issue of BBC Music. They are joined by two extraordinary soloists. Sarah Connolly CBE is one of the foremost British mezzo-sopranos and a fellow of the Royal College of Music. She has been nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award, a TMA Award, and two Grammy awards – and won Edison, Gramophone, and South Bank awards. The violist Maxim Rysanov is one of the up-and-coming stars on today’s classical music scene. In the words of Gramophone: ‘It is rare for a musician featured as our One to Watch, already to be on his second Editor’s Choice…, but such is the pace of viola-player Maxim Rysanov’s rise that it’s difficult to keep up.’ The earliest of the works recorded here is Britten’s Two Portraits for strings. Written around the time Britten joined the Royal College of Music, this work remained unpublished during his lifetime. It was published only posthumously, in 1997. The first ‘portrait’ is an exuberant character-study of a childhood friend. The second, by contrast, is a characteristically introspective self-portrait, with the plaintive voice of the viola (the string instrument that Britten himself played) taking the lead. The soloist in the Two Portraits and Lachrymae is Maxim Rysanov. The cantata Phaedra, Op. 93 is one of the very last works written by the composer before his death in 1976. Britten modelled the work on the Italian baroque cantatas of Handel, but it is also strongly influenced by Purcell, especially in the quality of the word setting. Phaedra is based on Robert Lowell’s acclaimed verse translation of Racine’s classical tragedy Phèdre, in which Phaedra, who is suffering from unrequited love for Hippolytus, the son of her husband by his former wife, causes his death, before, devastated by remorse, she takes her own life. Originally written for the mezzo-soprano Janet Baker, the tragic part of Phaedra is here sung by Sarah Connolly (also featured in A Charm of Lullabies). This is an extremely taut and economical work, very intense, and emotionally charged. “[Connolly's] plush mezzo is in prime condition. This is the highlight of an unusual programme of five works spanning more than 40 years of Britten’s career...The prodigious Sinfonietta, which Britten was proud to call his Op 1, completes this surprisingly successful collection of his short works.” Sunday Times, 1st May 2011 **** “Gardner’s sympathy for the music of Britten is fully displayed in a programme ranging from juvenilia to the late Phaedra, a short cantata with the force of an opera. But the dominating artist is the mezzo Sarah Connolly, compelling as Racine’s heroine in the grip of a tragic passion. In a quieter mood, Maxim Rysanov’s viola shines in the melancholic reflections of Lachrymae” The Times, 7th May 2011 **** “Sarah Connolly is tremendous is this new recording...her diction is impeccable and her sense of dramatic involvement is enormously impressive. She is also accompanied with exceptional sensitivity, attention to detail and theatrical flair by Edward Gardner and members of the BBC Symphony Orchestra...This disc, part of a series that clearly deserves the most serious attention from Britten collectors, is very strongly recommended.” International Record Review, May 2011 “Connolly reveals Phaedra’s stature, summoning such word-sensitivity, rhetorical flourish and classical poise that you wonder why this remarkable piece is not heard more often in the concert hall. Better still the stage: Connolly turns Racine’s heroine into the protagonist of an imaginary monodrama” Financial Times, 28th May 2011 **** “Gardner's sensitivity to the bittersweet Thirties idiom of the first portrait and the elegiac eloquence of viola soloist Maxim Rysanov in the second combine to highly atmospheric effect...Spurred on by Gardner's keen sense of theatre, Sarah Connolly goes straight for the drama...creat[ing] a veritable operatic scena...Rysanov returns as solost in a deeply thoughtful performance of Lachrymae...Imaginative programme, highly recommended.” Gramophone Magazine, July 2011 “[Rysanov] gives an outstanding reading of these 'reflections on a song of Dowland'...[Connolly's] ravishing accounts of A Charm of Lullabies and Phaedra subtly suggest in their colourations the singers Britten originally composed for: Nancy Evans and Janet Baker.” Classic FM Magazine, July 2011 **** “The real stunner...is Lachrymae...[which] benefits immensely from Edward Gardner's lean conducting and the sparse intensity of Maxim Rysanov's playing. Connolly is notably haunting in Colin Matthews's orchestration of the 1947 song cycle A Charm of Lullabies...Gardner and the BBC Symphony Orchestra are particularly good in the second movement [of the Sinfonietta]” The Guardian, 9th June 2011 **** “The Charm is a total winner, wrapped by Matthews in string woodwind sleep-music so familiar from the Nocturne and phrased by Connolly with alternate tenderness and edginess. Maxim Rysanov compels in introspective conversation with the excellent BBC Symphony strings in Lachrymae and is also behind the very fine self-portait of the teenage composer in Two Portraits.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2011 ***** | | | (also available to download from $10.50) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Royal Mezzo - Jennifer Larmore
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| |  | Britten: Phaedra, Lachrymae and other works
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| |  | Britten: Serenade, Nocturne and Phaedra
“Langridge adopts an appropriately ghostly voice for the Dirge - dramatic and dark...The English Chamber Orchestra, who have been brilliant throughout, really show their colours in the Sonnet, creating a beautifully translucent sound, while Langridge is aptly dramatic. Frank Lloyd is mysterious, unrushed and moving in the Epilogue and has the edge on his competitors” MusicWeb International | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Britten Conducts Britten: Opera 2
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 The Rape of Lucretia Dame Janet Baker (Lucretia), Peter Pears (Male Chorus), Heather Harper (Female Chorus), Elizabeth Bainbridge (Lucia), Jenny Hill (Bianca), Benjamin Luxon (Tarquinius), John Shirley-Quirk (Collatinus), Bryan Drake (Junius) English Chamber Orchestra, Benjamin Britten The Turn of the Screw Jennifer Vyvyan (Governess), Peter Pears (Prologue/Peter Quint), David Hemmings (Miles), Arda Mandikian (Miss Jessel), Joan Cross (Mrs Grose), Olive Dyer (Flora) English Opera Group Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Death In Venice Peter Pears (Aschenbach), John Shirley-Quirk (Traveller, Elderly Fop etc), James Bowman (Apollo) English Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford 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) Welsh National Opera Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras Phaedra, Op. 93 Dame Janet Baker (mezzo) English Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford |
“the set remains an essential bargain investment for collectors drawn to this repertoire” Penguin Guide, 2010 *** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | The Essential Benjamin Britten
Britten: | Young Apollo, Op. 16 Double Concerto Two Portraits Sinfonietta, Op. 1 The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34 BBC Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 BBC Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Op. 33a BBC Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis Passacaglia from Peter Grimes, Op. 33b BBC Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 15 Daniel Hope (violin) BBC Symphony Orchestra, Paul Watkins Lachrymae for viola & strings, Op. 48a Nicholas Bone (viola) Chamber Orchestra of Europe, William Conway Suites for cello solo, Nos. 1-3 William Butt (cello) War Requiem, Op. 66 Carol Vaness, Jerry Hadley & Thomas Hampson American Boychoir, Westminster Symphonic Choir, New York Philharmonic, Kurt Masur The Rescue of Penelope Parts 1 and 2 Dame Janet Baker & Lorraine Hunt Hallé Orchestra, Kent Nagano Phaedra, Op. 93 Dame Janet Baker & Lorraine Hunt Hallé Orchestra, Kent Nagano Billy Budd Thomas Hampson & Anthony Rolfe Johnson Hallé Orchestra, Kent Nagano Albert Herring DVD 1 Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Bernard Haitink A Midsummer Night's Dream DVD 2 Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Bernard Haitink Peter Grimes DVD 3 The Royal Opera, Covent Garden, Sir Colin Davis The Prince of the Pagodas, Op. 57 DVD 4 Darcey Bussell & Jonathan Cope The Royal Ballet, Ashley Lawrence |
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| | | Scheduled for release on 27 May 2013. Order it now and we will deliver it as soon as it is available. |
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| |  | Benjamin Britten - The Collector’s Edition
Britten: | Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20 Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pesek Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Op. 33a Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pesek The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34 Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pesek Canadian Carnival Overture, Op. 19 Wesley Warren (trumpet) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Diversions for piano (left hand) and orchestra, Op. 21 Peter Donohoe (piano) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Scottish Ballad, Op. 26 Peter Donohoe & Philip Fowke (pianos) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle An American Overture City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Occasional Overture, Op. 38 City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle The Building of the House CBSO Chorus & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Piano Concerto, Op. 13 Leif Ove Andsnes (piano) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 15 Ida Haendel (violin) Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Berglund Young Apollo, Op. 16 Peter Donohoe (piano), Felix Kok, Jeremy Ballard (violins), Peter Cole (viola) & Michal Kaznowski (cello) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Simple Symphony, Op. 4 Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Iona Brown Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Iona Brown Prelude & Fugue for 18 strings, Op. 29 Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Iona Brown Lachrymae for viola & strings, Op. 48a Lars Anders Tomter (viola) Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Iona Brown Gloriana - Symphonic Suite Op. 53a Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Takuo Yuasa Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 68 Steven Isserlis (cello) City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox Men of Goodwill (Variations on a Christmas Carol for orchestra) Minnesota Orchestra, Sir Neville Marriner Sinfonietta, Op. 1 Pauline Lowbury & Julian Tear (violins) Britten Sinfonia, Daniel Harding Russian Funeral City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Suite on English Folk Tunes 'A Time there was', Op. 90 Peter Walden (cor anglais) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Matinées musicales (after Rossini), Op. 24 English Chamber Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson Soirées musicales (after Rossini), Op. 9 English Chamber Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson The Tocher (Rossini Suite) Boys of the Choir of Paisley & Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford The Prince of the Pagodas, Op. 57 London Sinfonietta, Oliver Knussen Rhapsody for String Quartet Endellion String Quartet Quartettino Endellion String Quartet String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 25 Endellion String Quartet Phantasy in F minor for string quintet Nicholas Logie (viola) Endellion String Quartet Elegy for unaccompanied viola Garfield Jackson (viola) Phantasy Quartet for Oboe & String Trio, Op. 2 Endellion String Quartet Three Divertimenti Endellion String Quartet String Quartet No. 2 in C major, Op. 36 Endellion String Quartet String Quartet in D major (1931) Endellion String Quartet String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94 Endellion String Quartet Suites for cello solo, Nos. 1-3 Truls Mørk (cello) Holiday Diary Op. 5 for solo piano Stephen Hough, Ronan O’Hara (pianos) Three Character Pieces Stephen Hough, Ronan O’Hara (pianos) Moderato, Nocturne & Twelve Variations on a Theme from Sonatina romantica Stephen Hough, Ronan O’Hara (pianos) Five Waltzes for piano Stephen Hough, Ronan O’Hara (pianos) Two Lullabies for Two Pianos Stephen Hough, Ronan O’Hara (pianos) Introduction and Rondo alla burlesca, op.23 No.1 Stephen Hough, Ronan O’Hara (pianos) Suite Op. 6 Alexander Barantschik (violin) & John Adey (piano) Sonata for cello and piano in C major, Op. 65 Moray Welsh (cello) & John Lenehan (piano) Six Metamorphoses after Ovid for solo oboe, Op. 49 Roy Carter (oboe) Nocturnal after John Dowland, Op. 70 Julian Bream (guitar) War Requiem, Op. 66 Elisabeth Söderström (soprano), Robert Tear (tenor), Sir Thomas Allen (baritone) & Mark Blatchly (chamber organ) Boys of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, CBSO Chorus & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Spring Symphony, Op. 44 Sheila Armstrong (soprano), Dame Janet Baker (contralto) & Robert Tear (tenor) St. Clement Danes School Boys’ Choir, London Symphony Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn Hymn to St Cecilia, Op. 27 Richard Cross (treble) Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28 James Clark, Julian Godlee (trebles) & Osian Ellis (harp) Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63 Julian Brown, Christopher Anderson, Anthony Sackville, Rory Phillips & James Clark (trebles) & Ian Hare (organ) Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks Festival Te Deum in E, Op. 32 Simon Channing (treble) & James Lancelot (organ) Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir Philip Ledger Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30 Simon Channing (treble), James Bowman (countertenor), Richard Morton (tenor), Marcus Creed (bass), James Lancelot (organ) & David Corkhill (percussion) Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir Philip Ledger Te Deum in C Rory Phillips (treble) & James Lancelot (organ) Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir Philip Ledger Jubilate Deo in C major (1961) Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir Philip Ledger A Hymn to the Virgin Stephen Barton (treble), Hugh Hudleston (treble), Warren Trevelyan-Jones (tenor) & Francis Pott (bass) Winchester Cathedral Choir, David Hill St Nicolas, Op. 42 Words by Eric Crozier Robert Tear (tenor), Bruce Russell (treble), Andrew Davis & Ian Hare (piano duet Cambridge Girls’ Choir, Choir of King’s College, Cambridge & Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir David Willcocks Hymn to St. Peter, Op. 56a Mark Emney, Peter Rowe (trebles) & Timothy Farrell (organ) Wandsworth School Choir, Russell Burgess A Hymn of Saint Columba Mark Emney, Peter Rowe (trebles), Christopher Hughes, Timothy Farrell (organ) Choir of King’s College, Cambridge & Wandsworth School Choir, Russell Burgess Sacred and Profane, Op. 91 Vasari Singers, Jeremy Backhouse The Little Sweep, Op. 45 Words by Eric Crozier Robert Lloyd, Robert Tear, Sam Monck, Heather Begg, Catherine Benson, Cato Fordham, Catherine Wearing, Mary Wells, David Glick, Colin Huehns & Katherine Willis Finchley Children’s Music Group, Choral Scholars of King’s College, Cambridge & Medici String Quartet, Sir Philip Ledger A Boy was Born, Op. 3 London Sinfonietta Chorus & Choristers of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Terry Edwards A Shepherd's Carol Sarah Leonard (soprano), Susan Bickley (mezzo-soprano), Peter Hall (tenor) & Gordon Jones (baritone) London Sinfonietta Chorus, Terry Edwards Noye's Fludde Richard Pasco, Donald Maxwell, Linda Ormiston, Alexander Gallifant, Timothy Lamb, Nicholas Berry, Catriona Johnson, Polly Hewetson & Joanna Brown Coull String Quartet & Schools’ Orchestra from schools of Salisbury and Chester, Richard Hickox A.M.D.G. London Sinfonietta Chorus, Terry Edwards The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard (Text: The Oxford Book of Ballads) Baccholian Singers of London The Company of Heaven Peter Barkworth, Sheila Allen (narrators), Cathryn Pope (soprano), Dan Dressen (tenor) & Christopher Herrick (organ) London Philharmonic Choir & English Chamber Orchestra, Philip Brunelle Ballad of Heroes, Op. 14 Robert Tear (tenor) CBSO Chorus & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Praise We Great Men Alison Hargan (soprano), Mary King (contralto), Robert Tear (tenor) & Willard White (bass) CBSO Chorus & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Les illuminations, Op. 18 Heather Harper (soprano) Northern Sinfonia Orchestra, Sir Neville Marriner Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op. 31 Neil Mackie (tenor) & Barry Tuckwell (horn) Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal, for tenor, horn and strings orch. Colin Matthews Neil Mackie (tenor) & Barry Tuckwell (horn) Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford Nocturne, Op. 60 for tenor, obbligato instruments and strings Robert Tear (tenor) English Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate Quatre Chansons Françaises Jill Gomez (soprano) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle Our Hunting Fathers, Op. 8 Elisabeth Söderström (soprano) Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, Richard Armstrong Four Folksong Settings Elisabeth Söderström (soprano) Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, Richard Armstrong Phaedra, Op. 93 Felicity Palmer (mezzo-soprano), Jane Salmon (cello) & Melvyn Tan (harpsichord) Endymion Ensemble, John Whitfield Five French Folksong arrangements Felicity Palmer (mezzo-soprano) Endymion Ensemble, John Whitfield Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, Op. 22 Peter Pears (tenor) & Benjamin Britten (piano) The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op. 35 Peter Pears (tenor) & Benjamin Britten (piano) On this Island, Op. 11 Robert Tear (tenor) & Sir Philip Ledger (piano) Winter Words, Op. 52 Robert Tear (tenor) & Sir Philip Ledger (piano) Canticles I-V Ian Bostridge (tenor), David Daniels (countertenor), Christopher Maltman (baritone), Timothy Brown (horn), Aline Brewer (harp) & Julius Drake (piano) Folksongs (selection) Ian Bostridge (tenor), David Daniels (countertenor), Christopher Maltman (baritone), Timothy Brown (horn), Aline Brewer (harp) & Julius Drake (piano) The Children and Sir Nameless (Hardy) Neil Mackie (tenor) & Roger Vignoles (piano) Beware! - Three Early Songs Neil Mackie (tenor) & Roger Vignoles (piano) To lie flat on the back with the knees flexed (No. 1 from Fish in the Unruffled Lakes) Neil Mackie (tenor) & Roger Vignoles (piano) Three rhymes by William Soutar Neil Mackie (tenor) & Roger Vignoles (piano) Tit for Tat Jonathan Lemalu (bass baritone) & Malcolm Martineau (piano) Two Ballads for two voices and piano Felicity Lott (soprano) & Ann Murray (mezzo-soprano) Folksongs (selection) Robert Tear (tenor) & Sir Philip Ledger (piano) Folksongs (selection) Sarah Brightman (soprano) & Geoffrey Parsons (piano) Paul Bunyan Soloists, Chorus & Orchestra of the Plymouth Music Series, Philip Brunelle Peter Grimes Recorded: VI.1992, Watford Town Hall Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Felicity Lott, Thomas Allen, Patricia Payne, Maria Bovino, Gillian Webster, Stuart Kale, Stafford Dean, Sarah Walker, Neil Jenkins, Simon Keenlyside, David Wilson-Johnson Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Bernard Haitink The Turn of the Screw Recorded: 17–19.I.2002, Maltings Concert Hall, Snape, Suffolk Ian Bostridge, Joan Rodgers, Julian Leang, Caroline Wise, Jane Henschel, Vivian Tierney Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Daniel Harding A Midsummer Night's Dream Recorded: XI.1990 James Bowman, Lillian Watson, Dexter Fletcher, John Graham-Hall, Henry Herford, Della Jones, Jill Gomez, Norman Bailey, Penelope Walker Trinity Boys’ Choir, City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox The Rape of Lucretia Abridged recording of the revised version (1947), Recorded: 16–19.VII. & 19.X.1947, No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London Nancy Evans (Lucretia), Peter Pears (Male Chorus), Joan Cross (Female Chorus), Frederick Sharp (Tarquinius), Norman Lumsden (Collatinus), Dennis Dowling (Junius), Margaret Ritchie (Lucia), Flora Nielsen (Bianca) English Opera Group Chamber Orchestra, Reginald Goodall Night covers up the rigid land (No. 2 from Fish in the Unruffled Lakes) Neil Mackie (tenor) & Roger Vignoles (piano) If it's ever Spring again (Hardy) Neil Mackie (tenor) & Roger Vignoles (piano) |
Benjamin Britten was born on the day of the Patron Saint of Music – St. Cecilia – 22nd November in 1913 in Lowestoft. He showed remarkable skill at composition from his earliest days. In 1924 he met Frank Bridge (1879-1941), a fine composer in his own right, and became his pupil; through him he developed an appreciation of contemporary music with scores by Bartók and the Schönberg school, particulary Berg. In 1930 he entered the Royal College of Music and developed the pianistic skills which made him such a brilliant interpreter of both his own music and other greats particularly Mozart and Schubert. From these times date the beautiful A Hymn to the Virgin, Quatre Chansons Françaises and the Sinfonietta, his official Op. 1. He visited Vienna in 1934 and saw Wozzeck but family resistance prevented him studying with Berg (who, in any case, died from blood poisoning caused by an insect sting a year later). He worked for some years in the film unit of the General Post Office where he met W.H. Auden whose poetry inspired the brilliant song cycle Our Hunting Fathers. The experience in the film unit enabled him to develop the expressive immediacy and technical abilities – often using small and unconventional resources – which would assist his composition of operas in the years to come. In 1939 he decided to follow Auden to America, accompanying him was the tenor Peter Pears (1910-1986) who was to be the inspiration behind so many great operatic roles and song cycles. There he composed the Sinfonia da Requiem, the Michelangelo Sonnets and the First Quartet. His first opera, Paul Bunyan, to an Auden libretto, was also composed there but then withdrawn (it was revived for the Aldeburgh Festival in the year he died). He started to get the pangs of homesickness especially when he read, by chance, an article by E.M. Forster on the Suffolk poet Crabbe (whose work was to lead to arguably his greatest success) and he returned to England in 1942. He wrote A Ceremony of Carols and Hymn to St. Cecilia (another Auden text) during this year. For British Opera the date 7th June 1945 will always remain a red-letter day as it heralded the premiere of a masterpiece, Peter Grimes. The triumph not only established Britten as Purcell’s successor as Britain’s greatest music dramatist but its numerous performances abroad showed that Britain had an international composer celebrity. The Rape of Lucretia was premiered the following year as was the work by which Britten is probably best remembered – certainly by thankful schoolchildren for their guide to the Orchestra. Here he subjects the theme by Purcell to a series of ingenious variations played by each member of the orchestra and then as groups and finally a fugue where everything comes together in a simply unforgettable coda. Indeed when one examines Britten’s output it is hard not to credit him with at least one work of genius, if not a masterpiece, virtually every year for the rest of his composing life – whether it be an opera, for example The Turn of the Screw in 1954 or A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1960; a choral work, for example Spring Symphony in 1949 or the War Requiem in 1961, a large vocal work, for example Serenade for tenor, horn and strings in 1943, Nocturne in 1958 and Phaedra in 1975; a smaller vocal work, for example the Canticles of 1947, 1952, 1954, 1971 & 1974; the works he wrote for Mstislav Rostropovich – the Cello Sonata in 1961, the Cello Symphony in 1963 and the three Solo Cello Suites in 1964, 1967 & 1971; the two remaining string quartets in 1945 & 1975 and a full length ballet The Prince of the Pagodas in 1956. Besides setting many classic poets from Britain including Blake, Burns, Coleridge, Donne, Hardy, Keats, Jonson, Milton, Owen, Shakespeare, Shelley, Spenser, Tennyson and Wordsworth he also set texts in French (Hugo, Rimbaud and Verlaine), Italian (Michelangelo), German (Hölderlin) and Russian (Pushkin). He was also partly responsible for the reawakening of interest in the music of his great predecessor, Henry Purcell by making realizations of a large number of his works. He also launched the music festival in his adopted town of Aldeburgh. | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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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 Proctor, 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 and Decca enjoyed a unique relationship with the composer, 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: $262.75 Special: $236.25 |
| | Scheduled for release on 17 June 2013. Order it now and we will deliver it as soon as it is available. |
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Gramophone Magazine