Britten: Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10

In 2013 it is exactly one hundred years ago that the English genius Benjamin Britten was born. Britten’s brilliant manner of writing for string orchestra, his unique treatment of text, and his rich repertory of musical colours are all abundantly clear from the masterpieces featured on this recording. Besides the excellent soprano Barbara Hannigan, who sparkles in ‘Les Illuminations’, tenor James Gilchrist and hornist Jasper de Waal deliver an impressive contribution to this production with Amsterdam Sinfonietta.

The orchestra herself indulges in all imaginable techniques, colours and dynamic extremes that Britten releases from his box of tricks for string orchestra. Amsterdam Sinfonietta is an ensemble of 22 gifted musicians from around the world. The group performs without conductor, under the direction of Candida Thompson, artistic director since 2003. The ensemble’s defining feature is the strong involvement and artistic drive of each individual member. The group has gained a reputation for its distinguished performances and innovative programming.

Amsterdam Sinfonietta collaborates with renowned artists and performs in major venues around throughout the world. In the last seasons the group toured Europe, China, the US and Australia.

For this new recording of one of Britten’s most effective woks, soprano Karina Gauvin employs the full range of her expressive palette and great virtuosity. Her previous recordings have been well received; ”Her glinting soprano, bright-edged yet deliciously rounded and sensual…” The Times

Recorded live at on 10 December 2006 at Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall (Double Concerto) and Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on 23 April 2008 (Variations and Les Illuminations).

The London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Principal Conductor Vladimir Jurowski has made a number of previous recordings on the London Philharmonic Orchestra label including Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 14. His discography also includes the first ever recording of Kancheli’s Exile for ECM (1994) and a series of recordings with the Russian National Orchestra on PentaTone Classics.

On this release Jurowski conducts live recordings of three of Benjamin Britten’s early works. Written just before his published Opus 1, the Double Concerto for Violin and Viola was never performed during Britten’s lifetime, but already demonstrates his mature style. The memorable way that the string orchestra depicts different characteristics of Britten’s composition teacher in the Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge led it to become Britten’s first popular classic. Les Illuminations sets Rimbaud’s poetry in vividly realised musical images, making it the crowning masterpiece of Britten’s early years.

This is a rare recording of the Double Concerto. The piece was only premiered in 1997.

This is Sally Matthews’ first recording solo with orchestra.

Press acclaim from the concerts:

‘Pieter Schoeman and Alexander Zemtsov proved ideal advocates for this ambitious work [Britten’s Double Concerto for Violin and Viola]… Jurowski showed himself adept at mastering the Britten sound-world.’ The Daily Telegraph, December 2006

‘Jurowski led a skilful performance of Bartok’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta.’ The Financial Times, April 2008

Since the foundation of the Festival Strings of Lucerne in 1956, the works of Benjamin

Britten have been among the ensemble‘s core repertoire. These deceptively simple works place high technical demands on the musicians and the orchestra on this recording is more than up to the challenge. These are fresh performances of some very well known compositions.

The European Camerata was founded in 1995, to continue the work of the Youth Orchestra of the European Community, from which all members originate. It is conducted by violinist Laurent Quénelle, the orchestra plays standing up and this is only their second recording. Fuga Libera is delighted to welcome the European Camerata into its catalogue with four early works of Benjamin Britten.The Lachrimae, in the orchestral version first heard in 1976, is performed here on the arpegina, a large dissymmetrical viol, created by lutenist Bernard Sabatier for Jean-Paul Minali-Bella.