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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.
© TiVo
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Piano Concerto, Op. 13 (Benjamin Britten)
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Sviatoslav Richter, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Minshull, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1971 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Sviatoslav Richter, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Minshull, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1971 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Sviatoslav Richter, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Minshull, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1971 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Sviatoslav Richter, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Minshull, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1971 Decca Music Group Limited
Violin Concerto, Op. 15 (Benjamin Britten)
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Mark Lubotsky, Violin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Minshull, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1971 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Mark Lubotsky, Violin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Minshull, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1971 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Mark Lubotsky, Violin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Minshull, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1971 Decca Music Group Limited
DISC 2
Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 68 (Benjamin Britten)
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Mstislav Rostropovich, Cello, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - John Culshaw, Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1964 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Mstislav Rostropovich, Cello, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - John Culshaw, Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1964 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Mstislav Rostropovich, Cello, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - John Culshaw, Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1964 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Mstislav Rostropovich, Cello, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - John Culshaw, Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1964 Decca Music Group Limited
Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20 (Benjamin Britten)
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1965 Decca Music Group Limited
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1965 Decca Music Group Limited
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1965 Decca Music Group Limited
Cantata Misericordium, Op.69 (Benjamin Britten)
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Baritone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Peter Pears, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - London Symphony Chorus, Chorus, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - John Culshaw, Producer - Patrick Wilkinson, Author - James Lock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kenneth Wilkinson, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1965 Decca Music Group Limited
DISC 3
Prelude and Fugue for 18-part string orchestra, Op.29 (Benjamin Britten)
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Minshull, Producer, Recording Producer - Michael Mailes, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1977 Decca Music Group Limited
Simple Symphony, Op. 4 (Benjamin Britten)
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - David Harvey, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1969 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - David Harvey, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1969 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - David Harvey, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1969 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - David Harvey, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1969 Decca Music Group Limited
Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (Benjamin Britten)
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 Decca Music Group Limited
English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 Decca Music Group Limited
The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op.34 (Benjamin Britten)
Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Erik Smith, Producer, Recording Producer - Gordon Parry, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1964 Decca Music Group Limited
DISC 4
The Prince of the Pagodas, Op. 57 - Act 1 (Benjamin Britten)
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
The Prince of the Pagodas, Op. 57 - Act 2 Scene 1 (Benjamin Britten)
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Erik Smith, Producer
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Benjamin Britten, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - John Culshaw, Producer, Recording Producer - Erik Smith, Producer - Kenneth Wilkinson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyril Windebank, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1957 Decca Music Group Limited
Album review
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.
© TiVo
About the album
- 7 disc(s) - 143 track(s)
- Total length: 08:18:45
- Main artists: Benjamin Britten
- Composer: Benjamin Britten
- Label: Decca Music Group Ltd.
- Genre: Classical
- Collection: Britten Conducts Britten
© 2006 Decca Music Group Limited ℗ 2006 Decca Music Group Limited
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