Album

This disc is essentially self-recommending: anyone—and that means anyone—with an interest in the orchestral music and song cycles of the great twentieth century English composer Benjamin Britten will have to hear it. Why? Because it contains all the recordings Britten made of these works for Decca between 1954 and his death in 1976, and thereby forms the entire basis of an authentic and authoritative Britten performance practice. A fine conductor of other composers' music—his Mozart, his Schumann, and especially his Mahler were full of insight and understanding—Britten was a great conductor of his own music, combining in his performances the inspiration of creation with the act of re-creation. His awesome Sinfonia da Requiem with the New Philharmonia and his soulful Cello Symphony with Mstislav Rostropovich from 1964 are here, along with his sarcastic Piano Concerto with Sviatoslav Richter and his searing Violin Concerto with Mark Lubotsky from 1970. His whole three-act Prince of the Pagodas ballet played by the Royal Opera House Orchestra Covent Garden, from 1957 is here along with his sweet Simple Symphony from 1968 and his witty Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge from 1966, both played by the English Chamber Orchestra. All the big song cycles are here—Winter Words, the Michelangelo Sonnets, and the Donne Sonnets sung by tenor Peter Pears and the Blake Songs and Proverbs sung by baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau—but best of all is the final disc coupling all three of the big orchestral song cycles—the Serenade, Les illuminations, and the Nocturne all sung by the man for whom they were composed: Peter Pears. If you have any interest in Britten's music and you haven't already heard these recordings, you owe it to yourself to hear them. Decca's sound in the early '50s was a bit boomy in the bottom, but everything from the late '50s up is clear, deep, and rich.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 7
Benjamin Britten Composer Piano Concerto in D, Op.13 Work Recorded 1970 34:02 English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Sviatoslav Richter Piano
1	1.Toccata: Allegro molto e con brio	12:00			$1.99
2	2.Waltz	5:05			$0.99
3	3.Impromptu	8:07			$1.49
4	4.March	8:50			$1.49
Benjamin Britten Composer Violin Concerto in D-, Op.15 Work Recorded 1970 32:12 English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Mark Lubotsky Violin
5	1.Moderato con moto	9:17			$1.49
6	2.Vivace	9:18			$1.49
7	3.Passacaglia: Andante lento. Con moto	13:37			$2.49
CD 2 of 7
Benjamin Britten Composer Cello Symphony, Op.68 Work Recorded 1964 34:03 English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Mstislav Rostropovich Cello
1	1.Allegro maestoso	12:30			$1.99
2	2.Presto inquieto	3:38			$0.99
3	3.Adagio	10:33			$1.99
4	4.Passacaglia	7:22			$1.49
Benjamin Britten Composer Sinfonia da Requiem, Op.20 Work Recorded 1964 20:26 Benjamin Britten Conductor, New Philharmonia Orchestra Orchestra
5	1.Lacrymosa	8:46			$1.49
6	2.Dies irae	5:03			$0.99
7	3.Requiem aeternam	6:37			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Cantata misericordium, for tenor, baritone, chorus, string quartet, piano, harp, tympani, and strings, Op.69 Work Recorded 1963 Benjamin Britten Conductor, Peter Pears Tenor, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus Chorus/Choir, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Baritone
8	Cantata misericordium, for tenor, baritone, chorus, string quartet, piano, harp, tympani, and strings, Op.69	19:47			$3.49
CD 3 of 7
Benjamin Britten Composer Prelude and Fugue, for 18 strings, Op.29 Work Recorded 1971 English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Conductor
1	Prelude and Fugue, for 18 strings, Op.29	9:15			$1.49
Benjamin Britten Composer Simple Symphony, Op.4 Work Recorded 1968 17:16 English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Conductor
2	1.Boisterous Bourrée	3:23			$0.99
3	2.Playful Pizzicato	3:02			$0.99
4	3.Sentimental Sarabande	7:53			$1.49
5	4.Frolicsome Finale	2:58			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge, for strings, Op.10 Work Recorded 1966 26:40 English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Conductor
6	Introduction and Theme	1:58			$0.49
7	Variation 1: Adagio	2:24			$0.99
8	Variation 2: March	1:06			$0.49
9	Variation 3: Romance	1:37			$0.49
10	Variation 4: Aria Italiana	1:18			$0.49
11	Variation 5: Bourree classique	1:16			$0.49
12	Variation 6: Wiener Waltzer	2:41			$0.99
13	Variation 7: Moto perpetuo	1:10			$0.49
14	Variation 8: Funeral March	3:59			$0.99
15	Variation 9: Chant	1:37			$0.49
16	Variation 10: Fugue and Finale	7:34			$1.49
Benjamin Britten Composer Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell), for speaker ad lib and orchestra, Op.34 Work Recorded 1963 Benjamin Britten Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
17	Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell), for speaker ad lib and orchestra, Op.34	16:29			$2.99
CD 4 of 7
Benjamin Britten Composer Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 (ballet)...Act 1 Work Recorded 1957 32:14 Benjamin Britten Conductor, Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra Covent Garden Orchestra
1	1.Prelude: The palace of the emperor of the Middle Kingdom	2:21			$0.99
2	2.The fool and the dwarf	1:20			$0.49
3	3.The Emperor	1:29			$0.49
4	4.Gavotte	2:35			$0.99
5	5.Entry of the pages and the four kings	1:20			$0.49
6	6.Variation of the King of the North	1:17			$0.49
7	7.Variation of the King of the East	2:31			$0.99
8	8.Variation of the King of the West	1:07			$0.49
9	9.Variation of the King of the South	1:43			$0.49
10	10.Variation of Princess Belle Épine	2:26			$0.99
11	11.Variation of Belle Rose	6:10			$0.99
12	12.The kings and Belle Rose	1:25			$0.49
13	13.Triumph of Belle Épine	1:52			$0.49
14	14.The rage of the kings	1:41			$0.49
15	15.Entry of the four winged frogs	2:57			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 (ballet)...Act 2 Work Recorded 1957 32:52 Benjamin Britten Conductor, Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra Covent Garden Orchestra
16	1.Sc.1, The strange journey of Belle Rose to the Pagoda Land: Air. Introduction and Waltz	5:35			$0.99
17	2.Sc.1: Water dances	7:13			$1.49
18	3.Sc.1: Fire dances	5:59			$0.99
19	4.Sc.2: The arrival and adventures of Belle Rose in the Kingdom of the Pagodas	2:06			$0.99
20	5.Sc.2: The pagodas	3:02			$0.99
21	6.Sc.2: The salamander	3:02			$0.99
22	7.Sc.2, Pas de Deux: The Prince and Belle Rose	5:55			$0.99
CD 5 of 7
Benjamin Britten Composer Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 (ballet)...Act 3 Work Recorded 1957 35:00 Benjamin Britten Conductor, Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra Covent Garden Orchestra
1	1.Sc.1: The palace of the Middle Kingdom	2:47			$0.99
2	2.Sc.1: The old emperor	2:51			$0.99
3	3.Sc.1: Appearance of Belle Rose and the salamander	1:33			$0.49
4	4.Sc.1: Transition	3:08			$0.99
5	5.Sc.2: The Pagoda Palace	1:36			$0.49
6	6.Sc.2, Pas de six: Entrée	2:03			$0.99
7	7.Sc.2, Variation 1: Pas de deux	3:43			$0.99
8	8.Sc.2, Variation 2: Girl's solo	1:06			$0.49
9	9.Sc.2, Variation 3: Boy's solo	1:08			$0.49
10	10.Sc.2: Pas de trois	1:24			$0.49
11	11.Sc.2, Pas de deux: Belle Rose and the Prince of the Pagodas	4:05			$0.99
12	12.Sc.2, Variation 4: The Prince	1:10			$0.49
13	13.Sc.2, Variation 5: Belle Rose	2:16			$0.99
14	14.Sc.2: Finale and Apotheosis	6:10			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Diversions, for piano left hand and orchestra, Op.21 Work Recorded 1954 23:56 Benjamin Britten Conductor, Julius Katchen Piano, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
15	Theme	1:06			$0.49
16	Variation 1: Recitative	1:28			$0.49
17	Variation 2: Romance	1:29			$0.49
18	Variation 3: March	1:19			$0.49
19	Variation 4: Arabesque	1:36			$0.49
20	Variation 5: Chant	1:47			$0.49
21	Variation 6: Nocturne	2:07			$0.99
22	Variation 7: Badinerie	1:25			$0.49
23	Variation 8: Burlesque	1:52			$0.49
24	Variation 9a: Toccata 1	0:48			$0.49
25	Variation 9b: Toccata 2	2:01			$0.99
26	Variation 10: Adagio	4:17			$0.99
27	Finale: Tarantella	2:41			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer 7 Sonnets of Michelangelo, Op.22 (song cycle) Work Recorded 1954 16:33 Benjamin Britten Piano, Peter Pears Tenor
28	1.Sonetto 16: Sì come nella penna e nell' inchiostro	1:59			$0.49
29	2.Sonetto 31: A che più debb io mai l'intensa voglia	1:22			$0.49
30	3.Sonetto 30: Veggio co' bei vostri occhi un dolce lume	3:16			$0.99
31	4.Sonetto 55: Tu sa' ch'io so, signior mie, che tu sai	1:47			$0.49
32	5.Sonetto 38: Rendete a gli occhi miei, o fonte o fiume	1:54			$0.49
33	6.Sonetto 32: S'un casto amor, s una pietà superna	1:20			$0.49
34	7.Sonetto 24: Spirto ben nato, in cui si specchia e vede	4:55			$0.99
CD 6 of 7
Benjamin Britten Composer The Holy Sonnets of John Donne (song cycle), Op.35 Work Recorded 1967 23:08 Benjamin Britten Piano, Peter Pears Tenor
1	1.Oh my blacke Soule!	3:20			$0.99
2	2.Batter my heart	1:20			$0.49
3	3.Oh might those sighes and teares	3:00			$0.99
4	4.Oh, to vex me	1:08			$0.49
5	5.What if this present	2:50			$0.99
6	6.Since she whom I lov'd	3:27			$0.99
7	7.At the round earth's imagin'd corners	2:35			$0.99
8	8.Thou hast made me	1:31			$0.49
9	9.Death be not proud	3:57			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Songs and Proverbs of W. Blake (song cycle) Work Recorded 1965 23:30 Benjamin Britten Piano, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Baritone
10	2.London	3:07			$0.99
11	4.The Chimney-Sweeper	2:50			$0.99
12	6.A Poison Tree	4:28			$0.99
13	8.The Tyger	2:34			$0.99
14	10.The Fly	2:48			$0.99
15	12.Ah! Sun-flower!	4:15			$0.99
16	14.Every Night and Every Morn	3:28			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Winter Words, for tenor and piano, Op.52 (song cycle) Work Recorded 1954 20:26 Benjamin Britten Piano, Peter Pears Tenor
17	1.At day-close in November	1:40			$0.49
18	2.Midnight on the Great Western (or The Journeying Boy)	4:28			$0.99
19	3.Wagtail and Baby (A Satire)	1:58			$0.49
20	4.The Little Old Table	1:24			$0.49
21	5.The Choirmaster's burial (or The Tenor Man's Story)	3:46			$0.99
22	6.Proud Songsters (Thrushes, Finches and Nightingales)	1:10			$0.49
23	7.At the Railway Station, Upway (or The Convict and Boy with the Violin)	2:42			$0.99
24	8.Before Life and After	3:18			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Tit for Tat (song cycle) Work Recorded 1972 8:42 Benjamin Britten Piano, John Shirley-Quirk Baritone
25	1.A song of enchantment	2:27			$0.99
26	2.Autumn	1:13			$0.49
27	3.Silver	1:45			$0.49
28	4.Vigil	1:43			$0.49
29	5.Tit for tat	1:34			$0.49
CD 7 of 7
Benjamin Britten Composer Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, Op.31 (song cycle) Work Recorded 1963 23:50 Benjamin Britten Conductor, Peter Pears Tenor, Barry Tuckwell Horn, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
1	1.Prologue	1:24			$0.49
2	2.Pastoral (text by Cotton)	3:37			$0.99
3	3.Nocturne (text by Tennyson)	3:20			$0.99
4	4.Elegy (text by Blake)	4:02			$0.99
5	5.Dirge (text anon 15th c.)	3:44			$0.99
6	6.Hymn (text by Jonson)	2:01			$0.99
7	7.Sonnet (text by Keats)	4:09			$0.99
8	8.Epilogue	1:33			$0.49
Benjamin Britten Composer Les Illuminations, Op.18 (song cycle; text by Rimbaud; for voice and strings) Work Recorded 1966 22:04 English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Peter Pears Tenor
9	1.Fanfare. Maestoso. Largamente	1:51			$0.49
10	2.Villes. Allegro energico	2:32			$0.99
11	3a.Phrase. Lento ed estatico	0:57			$0.49
12	3b.Antique. Allegretto, un poco mosso	2:10			$0.99
13	4.Royauté. Allegro maestoso	1:37			$0.49
14	5.Marine. Allegro con brio	1:02			$0.49
15	6.Interlude. Moderato ma comodo	2:21			$0.99
16	7.Being Beauteous. Lento ma comodo	4:04			$0.99
17	8.Parade. Alla marcia	2:48			$0.99
18	9.Départ. Largo mesto. Largamente	2:42			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Nocturne, Op.60 (song cycle) Work Recorded 1959 26:22 Osian Ellis Harp, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Denis Blyth Timpani, William Waterhouse Bassoon, Alexander Murray Flute, Peter Pears Tenor, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Gervase de Peyer Clarinet, Barry Tuckwell Horn, Roger Lord English Horn
19	1.On a poet's lips (text by Shelley)	3:22			$0.99
20	2.Below the thunders (text by Tennyson)	3:18			$0.99
21	3.Encintured with a twine (text by Coleridge)	2:12			$0.99
22	4.Midnight's bell (text by Middleton)	2:30			$0.99
23	5.But that night (text by Wordsworth)	3:02			$0.99
24	6.She sleeps on soft (text by Owen)	4:30			$0.99
25	7.What is more gentle (text by Keats)	3:27			$0.99
26	8.When most I wink (text by Shakespeare)	4:01			$0.99