The Very Best of Benjamin Britten [3 CDs]

• Album Summary
• Notes & Reviews
• Also Purchased
• Works Details

Album Summary

Performers

• Lynda Houghton (Double Bass)
• Ian Watson (Piano)
• Anthony Rolfe Johnson (Voice)
• Felicity Lott (Voice)
• Stuart Kale (Tenor)
• Patricia Payne (Mezzo Soprano)
• Stafford Dean (Voice)
• Claire Booth (Soprano)
• Peter Coleman-Wright (Bass)
• Susan Gritton (Soprano)
• Angelika Kirchschlager (Mezzo-Soprano)
• Hilary Summers (Alto)
• Nathan Gunn (Baritone)
• Caroline Wise (Soprano)
• Truls Truls Mork (Cello)
• Joan Rodgers (Soprano)
• Lars Tomter (Viola)
• Jane Henschel (Alto)
• Vivian Tierney (Soprano)
• Thomas Allen (Baritone)
• Andrew Mead (Voice)
• Gregory Pierre (Treble)
• Mark Blatchly (Organ)
• Nicholas Watson (Treble)
• Robert Tear (Tenor)
• Simon Hart (Treble)
• Stephen Hough (Piano)
• Elisabeth Nelson (Soprano)
• Ronan O'Hara (Piano)
• Leif Andsnes (Piano)
• Martyn Hill (Tenor)
• Frank Lloyd (Horn)
• Julius Drake (Piano)
• Ian Bostridge (Tenor)
• Cathryn Pope (Soprano)
• Alan Harwood (Organ)
• John Whitfield (Recorder)
• John Alley (Piano)
• Charles Fullbrook (Timpani)
• Elisabeth Söderström (Soprano)

Conductors

• Brown, Iona
• Brunelle, Philip
• Haitink, Bernard
• Harding, Daniel
• Hickox, Richard
• Knussen, Oliver
• Paavo, Jarvi
• Pesek, Libor
• Rattle, Simon, Sir
• Warren-Green, Christopher
• Willcocks, David

Ensembles

• 
• Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble
• Endymion Ensemble

Composer

• Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)

Notes & Reviews:

Since his death in 1976 many musicians have looked at Benjamin Britten's scores anew - not simply the repertory Britten never recorded, but the many canon works he put on tape in the space of only twenty years. Indeed, this set - featuring a wealth of legendary artists such as Sir Simon Rattle, Stephen Hough, Leif Ove Andsnes, Richard Hickox, Ian Bostridge, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Felicity Lott, Angelika Kirchsclager, Bernard Haitink and the Choir of King's College, Cambridge - brings together some of the finest performances of Britten's music in recent times. It is newer recordings such as these that testify to the profound impact Britten had of the music of the 20th century, which continues in the 21st.

The Very Best Of is a series celebrating the exceptional recording history of some of EMI Classics leading artists from the past and present. The next installment of five titles features classical superstars like Benjamin Britten, Jascha Heifetz, Mirella Freni, Nicolai Gedda, and Elisabeth Schwazkopf. Experience The Very Best Of these iconic EMI Classics artists.

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Works Details

Britten, Benjamin : The Young person's guide to the orchestra

• Conductor: Libor Pesek
• Running Time: 4 min. 2 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1946

Britten, Benjamin : Cello Symphony, Op. 68 :: 2. Presto inquieto

• Performer: Truls Truls Mork (Cello)
• Conductor: Simon Rattle
• Notes: Composition written: 1963.
• Running Time: 4 min. 4 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Orchestral
• Written: 1963

Britten, Benjamin : Elegy for Viola solo

• Performer: Lars Tomter (Viola)
• Running Time: 7 min. 13 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1930

Britten, Benjamin : Peter Grimes

• Conductor: Libor Pesek
• Running Time: 15 min. 39 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1944

Britten, Benjamin : Passacaglia, for orchestra, Op. 33b (from "Peter Grimes")

• Conductor: Libor Pesek
• Running Time: 7 min. 56 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1944

Britten, Benjamin : Peter Grimes

• Conductor: Libor Pesek
• Running Time: 15 min. 39 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1944

Britten, Benjamin : Quartet for Strings no 2 in C, Op. 36 :: 2. Vivace

• Running Time: 3 min. 29 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1945

Britten, Benjamin : Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20 :: 3. Requiem Aeterrnam3. Requiem aeternam

• Conductor: Libor Pesek
• Notes: Composition written: 1940.
• Running Time: 7 min. 19 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Choral
• Written: 1940

Britten, Benjamin : Suite for Cello no 3, Op. 87 :: 4. Barcarola

• Performer: Truls Truls Mork (Cello)
• Running Time: 1 min. 28 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1971

Britten, Benjamin : The Prince of the Pagodas, Op. 57 :: Act 3. Finale

• Conductor: Oliver Knussen
• Running Time: 4 min. 31 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Ballet
• Written: 1956

Britten, Benjamin : The Prince of the Pagodas, Op. 57 :: Act 3. Apotheosis

• Conductor: Oliver Knussen
• Running Time: 1 min. 31 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Ballet
• Written: 1956

Britten, Benjamin : War Requiem, Op. 66 :: Libera me

• Performers: Elisabeth Söderström (Soprano); Thomas Allen (Baritone); Mark Blatchly (Organ); Robert Tear (Tenor)
• Conductor: Simon Rattle
• Running Time: 5 min. 24 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Choral
• Written: 1961

Britten, Benjamin : Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge, for strings, Op. 10

• Conductor: Iona Brown
• Running Time: 25 min. 36 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1937

Britten, Benjamin : Simple Symphony for Strings, Op. 4

• Conductor: Christopher Warren-Green
• Running Time: 16 min. 40 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Orchestral
• Written: 1934

Britten, Benjamin : Prelude and Fugue for 18-part String Orchestra, Op. 29

• Conductor: Christopher Warren-Green
• Running Time: 9 min. 12 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1943

Britten, Benjamin : Holiday Diary, Op. 5 :: 2. Sailing

• Performer: Stephen Hough (Piano)
• Running Time: 5 min. 17 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1934

Britten, Benjamin : Three Character Pieces :: 2. Daphne

• Performer: Stephen Hough (Piano)
• Running Time: 2 min. 9 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1930

Britten, Benjamin : Night Piece (Notturno), for piano

• Performer: Stephen Hough (Piano)
• Running Time: 5 min. 25 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1963

Britten, Benjamin : Five Waltzes :: 1. Rather fast & nervous

• Performer: Stephen Hough (Piano)
• Running Time: 1 min. 11 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Waltz
• Written: 1925

Britten, Benjamin : Five Waltzes :: 5. Variations

• Performer: Stephen Hough (Piano)
• Running Time: 2 min. 57 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Waltz
• Written: 1925

Britten, Benjamin : Lullabies (2) for piano :: Lullaby for a retired Colonel

• Performers: Ronan O'Hara (Piano); Stephen Hough (Piano)
• Running Time: 2 min. 22 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1936

Britten, Benjamin : Piano Concerto, Op. 13 :: 2. Waltz

• Performer: Leif Andsnes (Piano)
• Conductor: Järvi Paavo
• Running Time: 5 min. 9 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Concerto
• Written: 1938

Britten, Benjamin : Les Illuminations, Op. 18 :: 7. Being Beauteous

• Performers: Martyn Hill (Tenor); Frank Lloyd (Horn)
• Conductor: Richard Hickox
• Running Time: 4 min. 5 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1939

Britten, Benjamin : Les Illuminations, Op. 18 :: 8. Parade

• Performers: Martyn Hill (Tenor); Frank Lloyd (Horn)
• Conductor: Richard Hickox
• Running Time: 2 min. 51 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1939

Britten, Benjamin : Les Illuminations, Op. 18 :: 9. Départ

• Performers: Martyn Hill (Tenor); Frank Lloyd (Horn)
• Conductor: Richard Hickox
• Running Time: 2 min. 43 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1939

Britten, Benjamin : Serenade, Op. 31 :: Sonnet

• Performers: Martyn Hill (Tenor); Frank Lloyd (Horn)
• Conductor: Richard Hickox
• Running Time: 4 min. sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1943

Britten, Benjamin : Serenade, Op. 31 :: Epilogue

• Performers: Martyn Hill (Tenor); Frank Lloyd (Horn)
• Conductor: Richard Hickox
• Running Time: 1 min. 38 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1943

Britten, Benjamin : Nocturne, Op. 60 :: On a poet's lips I slept

• Performer: Martyn Hill (Tenor)
• Conductor: Richard Hickox
• Running Time: 3 min. 38 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1958

Britten, Benjamin : Canticle I :: My Beloved Is Mine, for high voice & piano, Op. 40

• Performers: Julius Drake (Piano); Ian Bostridge (Tenor)
• Running Time: 7 min. 42 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1947

Britten, Benjamin : Greensleeves, folksong arrangement for high voice & piano

• Performers: Julius Drake (Piano); Ian Bostridge (Tenor)
• Running Time: 2 min. 10 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: circa 1941

Britten, Benjamin : A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28 :: 10. Deo gracias!

• Conductor: David Willcocks
• Running Time: 1 min. 11 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Cantata/Oratorio
• Written: 1942

Britten, Benjamin : A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28 :: 11. Recession

• Conductor: David Willcocks
• Running Time: 1 min. 15 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Cantata/Oratorio
• Written: 1942

Britten, Benjamin : The Company of Heaven :: Part 3

• Performer: Cathryn Pope (Soprano)
• Conductor: Philip Brunelle
• Running Time: 3 min. 58 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Cantata/Oratorio
• Written: 1937

Britten, Benjamin : Noye's Fludde, Op. 59 :: Lord Jesus, think on me

• Performers: Alan Harwood (Organ); John Whitfield (Recorder); John Alley (Piano); Charles Fullbrook (Timpani); Lynda Houghton (Double Bass); Ian Watson (Piano)
• Conductor: Richard Hickox
• Ensemble: Endymion Ensemble
• Running Time: 3 min. 8 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Opera/Operetta
• Written: 1957

Britten, Benjamin : Peter Grimes :: Act 3. Scene 2. Grimes!

• Performer: Anthony Rolfe Johnson (Voice)
• Conductor: Bernard Haitink
• Running Time: 5 min. 10 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Opera/Operetta
• Written: 1945

Britten, Benjamin : Peter Grimes :: Act 3. Scene 2. Peter, we've come to take you home

• Performers: Anthony Rolfe Johnson (Voice); Thomas Allen (Baritone); Felicity Lott (Voice)
• Conductor: Bernard Haitink
• Running Time: 2 min. 47 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Opera/Operetta
• Written: 1945

Britten, Benjamin : Peter Grimes :: Act 3. Scene 2. To those who pass the Borough

• Performers: Stuart Kale (Tenor); Patricia Payne (Mezzo Soprano); Stafford Dean (Voice); Thomas Allen (Baritone)
• Conductor: Bernard Haitink
• Running Time: 4 min. 16 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Opera/Operetta
• Written: 1945

Britten, Benjamin : The Rape of Lucretia, Op. 37 :: Act 1. Scene 2. Lucia runs to the door

• Performers: Claire Booth (Soprano); Peter Coleman-Wright (Bass); Susan Gritton (Soprano); Ian Bostridge (Tenor); Angelika Kirchschlager (Mezzo-Soprano); Hilary Summers (Alto)
• Conductor: Oliver Knussen
• Ensemble: Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble
• Notes: Composition written: 1946.
• Running Time: 5 min. 18 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Opera/Operetta
• Written: 1946

Britten, Benjamin : Billy Budd, Op. 50 :: Act 3. Scene 3. Look! Through the port comes the moon-shine astray

• Performer: Nathan Gunn (Baritone)
• Conductor: Daniel Harding
• Running Time: 5 min. 44 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Opera/Operetta
• Written: 1951

Britten, Benjamin : The Turn of the Screw :: Act 2. Variation 14

• Conductor: Daniel Harding
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1954

Britten, Benjamin : The Turn of the Screw :: Act 2. Scene 7. Flora

• Performers: Caroline Wise (Soprano); Joan Rodgers (Soprano); Jane Henschel (Alto); Vivian Tierney (Soprano)
• Conductor: Daniel Harding
• Running Time: 3 min. 50 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Written: 1954

Britten, Benjamin : A Midsummer Night's Dream :: Act 2. On the ground, sleep sound

• Performers: Andrew Mead (Voice); Gregory Pierre (Treble); Nicholas Watson (Treble); Simon Hart (Treble)
• Conductor: Richard Hickox
• Running Time: 3 min. 12 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Opera/Operetta
• Written: 1960

Britten, Benjamin : Paul Bunyan :: Act 1. Tiny's Song

• Performer: Elisabeth Nelson (Soprano)
• Conductor: Philip Brunelle
• Notes: Composition written: 1941.
• Running Time: 3 min. 33 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Opera/Operetta
• Written: 1941

Britten, Benjamin : Paul Bunyan :: Act 2. Third Ballad Interlude

• Conductor: Philip Brunelle
• Notes: Composition written: 1941.
• Running Time: 2 min. 7 sec.
• Period Time: Modern
• Form: Opera/Operetta
• Written: 1941