
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
- Les illuminations, Op. 18: Fanfare
- Les illuminations, Op. 18: Villes
- Les illuminations, Op. 18: Phrase
- Les illuminations, Op. 18: Antique
- Les illuminations, Op. 18: Royauté
- Les illuminations, Op. 18: Marine
- Les illuminations, Op. 18: Interlude
- Les illuminations, Op. 18: Being Beauteous
- Les illuminations, Op. 18: Parade
- Les illuminations, Op. 18: Départ
- Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Introduction and Theme
- Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation I. Adagio
- Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation II. March
- Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation III. Romance
- Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation IV. Aria italiana
- Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation V. Bourrée classique
- Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation VI. Wiener Waltzer
- Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation VII. Moto perpetuo
- Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation VIII. Funeral March
- Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation IX. Chant
- Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Variation X. Fugue and Finale
- Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Prologue
- Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Pastoral
- Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Nocturne
- Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Elegy
- Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Dirge
- Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Hymn
- Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Sonnet
- Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31: Epilogue