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Benjamin Britten's 1948 version of The Beggar's Opera contains more of the original tunes assembled by John Gay for his 1728 ballad opera than most other modern versions. It also bears the most individualistic imprint of any modern version, to the extent that Britten is fully justified in designating it as his Op. 43. The orchestration is distinctively quirky; the chamber ensemble for which he arranged it is strikingly similar to that of The Rape of Lucretia and Albert Herring, and it makes no attempt to disguise its twentieth century idiom. Harmonically, too, Britten lets his imagination run free, and his accompaniments are unmistakably modern. In his treatment of the folk, popular, and classical melodies to which Gay attached his lyrics, though, Britten is scrupulously faithful to the originals, retaining all the eccentricities that can sound quite odd to modern ears, and which tend to get smoothed out and made "prettier" in most modern editions of the work.
Ballad opera is not a familiar genre, this being the only piece of its type that's performed with any frequency. It is more like a musical comedy than any kind of opera, but its brief snippets of dialogue alternating with brief songs, frequently a single verse, give it a stop-and-start quality that isn't immediately easy for contemporary audiences to relate to. There is considerable wit (and innuendo) in the text, which Britten's ingenious setting heightens, and plenty to appeal to adventurous listeners. This performance of the complete work, including dialogue (which is delivered energetically throughout), makes a strong case for the piece. The singing overall is adequate, of the caliber expected of a Gilbert and Sullivan production. Tom Randle is a somewhat nasal Macheath with excessive vibrato, and Leah-Marian Jones a mature-sounding Polly, but veterans Jeremy White and Susan Bickley are in fine voice, and deliver splendidly vivid characterizations of Mr. and Mrs. Peachum. The City of London Sinfonia plays with precision and high spirits for Christian Curnyn, whose reading is well attuned to the humor and eccentricities in the score. Chandos' sound is clear and present, but doesn't do much to create a sense of dramatic space.
© TiVo
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The Beggar's Opera, op. 43 (Benjamin Britten)
Sirena Tocco (Beggar) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - Robert Anthony Gardiner, tenor (Filch) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - Robert Anthony Gardiner, tenor (Filch) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano (Mrs Peachum) - Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano (Mrs Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano (Mrs Peachum) - Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano (Mrs Peachum) - Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano (Mrs Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano (Mrs Peachum) - Robert Anthony Gardiner, tenor (Filch) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - Robert Anthony Gardiner, tenor (Filch) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano (Mrs Peachum) - Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano (Mrs Peachum) - Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano (Mrs Peachum) - Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano (Mrs Peachum) - Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano (Mrs Peachum) - Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano (Mrs Peachum) - Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano (Mrs Peachum) - Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Bryn Evans (Harry Paddington) - Aidan Smith (Ben Budge) - Mark Saberton (Wat Dreary) - Ben Thapa (Mat of the Mint) - Paul Hopwood (Jemmy Twitcher) - Thomas Barnard (Nimming Ned) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Bryn Evans (Harry Paddington) - Aidan Smith (Ben Budge) - Mark Saberton (Wat Dreary) - Ben Thapa (Mat of the Mint) - Paul Hopwood (Jemmy Twitcher) - Thomas Barnard (Nimming Ned) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - Ben Thapa (Mat of the Mint) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - Bryn Evans (Harry Paddington) - Aidan Smith (Ben Budge) - Mark Saberton (Wat Dreary) - Ben Thapa (Mat of the Mint) - Paul Hopwood (Jemmy Twitcher) - Thomas Barnard (Nimming Ned) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - Kathryn Jenkin (Mrs Vixen) - Siobháin Gibson (Suky Tawdry) - Clare McCaldin (Mrs Coaxer) - Bernadette Lord (Dolly Trull) - Alison Place (Mrs Slammekin) - Katy Batho (Molly Brazen) - Miranda Westcott (Jenny Diver) - Katherine Paterson (Betty Doxy) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - Miranda Westcott (Jenny Diver) - Clare McCaldin (Mrs Coaxer) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Kathryn Jenkin (Mrs Vixen) - Siobháin Gibson (Suky Tawdry) - Clare McCaldin (Mrs Coaxer) - Bernadette Lord (Dolly Trull) - Alison Place (Mrs Slammekin) - Katy Batho (Molly Brazen) - Miranda Westcott (Jenny Diver) - Katherine Paterson (Betty Doxy) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Katherine Paterson (Betty Doxy) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
DISC 2
Donald Maxwell, baritone (Lockit) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Donald Maxwell, baritone (Lockit) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Donald Maxwell, baritone (Lockit) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Donald Maxwell, baritone (Lockit) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Donald Maxwell, baritone (Lockit) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Donald Maxwell, baritone (Lockit) - Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Donald Maxwell, baritone (Lockit) - Sarah Fox, soprano (Lucy Lockit) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Donald Maxwell, baritone (Lockit) - Sarah Fox, soprano (Lucy Lockit) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Sarah Fox, soprano (Lucy Lockit) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Sarah Fox, soprano (Lucy Lockit) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - Sarah Fox, soprano (Lucy Lockit) - Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - Sarah Fox, soprano (Lucy Lockit) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - Donald Maxwell, baritone (Lockit) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Sarah Fox, soprano (Lucy Lockit) - Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano (Polly Peachum) - Tom Randle, tenor (Captain Macheath) - Donald Maxwell, baritone (Lockit) - Jeremy White, bass-baritone (Mr Peachum) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Donald Maxwell, baritone (Lockit) - Sarah Fox, soprano (Lucy Lockit) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Donald Maxwell, baritone (Lockit) - Sarah Fox, soprano (Lucy Lockit) - City of London Sinfonia - Christian Curnyn, conductor
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
Album review
Benjamin Britten's 1948 version of The Beggar's Opera contains more of the original tunes assembled by John Gay for his 1728 ballad opera than most other modern versions. It also bears the most individualistic imprint of any modern version, to the extent that Britten is fully justified in designating it as his Op. 43. The orchestration is distinctively quirky; the chamber ensemble for which he arranged it is strikingly similar to that of The Rape of Lucretia and Albert Herring, and it makes no attempt to disguise its twentieth century idiom. Harmonically, too, Britten lets his imagination run free, and his accompaniments are unmistakably modern. In his treatment of the folk, popular, and classical melodies to which Gay attached his lyrics, though, Britten is scrupulously faithful to the originals, retaining all the eccentricities that can sound quite odd to modern ears, and which tend to get smoothed out and made "prettier" in most modern editions of the work.
Ballad opera is not a familiar genre, this being the only piece of its type that's performed with any frequency. It is more like a musical comedy than any kind of opera, but its brief snippets of dialogue alternating with brief songs, frequently a single verse, give it a stop-and-start quality that isn't immediately easy for contemporary audiences to relate to. There is considerable wit (and innuendo) in the text, which Britten's ingenious setting heightens, and plenty to appeal to adventurous listeners. This performance of the complete work, including dialogue (which is delivered energetically throughout), makes a strong case for the piece. The singing overall is adequate, of the caliber expected of a Gilbert and Sullivan production. Tom Randle is a somewhat nasal Macheath with excessive vibrato, and Leah-Marian Jones a mature-sounding Polly, but veterans Jeremy White and Susan Bickley are in fine voice, and deliver splendidly vivid characterizations of Mr. and Mrs. Peachum. The City of London Sinfonia plays with precision and high spirits for Christian Curnyn, whose reading is well attuned to the humor and eccentricities in the score. Chandos' sound is clear and present, but doesn't do much to create a sense of dramatic space.
© TiVo
Details of original recording : 52:43 - 65:09 - DDD - Enregistré du 1 au 4 février 2009 à Blackheath Halls, Londres - Notes en français, anglais et allemand avec les textes chantés en anglais
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 71 track(s)
- Total length: 01:57:21
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Christian Curnyn
- Composer: Benjamin Britten
- Label: Chandos
- Area: Angleterre
- Genre: Classical Concertos
- Period: Modern Style
2009 Chandos 2009 Chandos
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