Scottish Ensemble "Britten: Les Illuminations" SACD

Scottish Ensemble "Britten: Les Illuminations" SACD

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This recording brings together three youthful masterworks all composed by Benjamin Britten before his 30th birthday.

These are highly insightful performances, widely considered to be modern reference versions to set next to Britten's own.

Clio Gould and the ensemble demonstrate playing of impressive unanimity of purpose, joyous intensity and clarity of detail. The ensemble is joined by the Royal Philharmonic Society’s 2012 ‘Singer of the Year’ Toby Spence, for two of Britten’s most popular song cycles. Toby Spence’s voice is ideally suited to the wide-ranging demands that Britten makes on it; his tonal freshness and acutely observed articulation of the words are absorbing. Martin Owen, whose horn playing has drawn comparisons with Dennis Brain, is equal to every one of the near-impossible tasks set him by Britten in the Serenade.

Tracklisting

  1. Les illuminations, Op. 18: Fanfare
  2. Les illuminations, Op. 18: Villes
  3. Les illuminations, Op. 18: Phrase
  4. Les illuminations, Op. 18: Antique
  5. Les illuminations, Op. 18: Royauté
  6. Les illuminations, Op. 18: Marine
  7. Les illuminations, Op. 18: Interlude
  8. Les illuminations, Op. 18: Being Beauteous
  9. Les illuminations, Op. 18: Parade
  10. Les illuminations, Op. 18: Départ
  11. Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Introduction and Theme
  12. Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation I. Adagio
  13. Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation II. March
  14. Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation III. Romance
  15. Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation IV. Aria italiana
  16. Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation V. Bourrée classique
  17. Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation VI. Wiener Waltzer
  18. Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation VII. Moto perpetuo
  19. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation VIII. Funeral March
  20. Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation IX. Chant
  21. Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation X. Fugue and Finale
  22. Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Prologue
  23. Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Pastoral
  24. Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Nocturne
  25. Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Elegy
  26. Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Dirge
  27. Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Hymn
  28. Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Sonnet
  29. Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Epilogue