Britten: Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63

This page lists all recordings of Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63, by Benjamin Britten (1913-77) on CD. Generally, more recent CDs are listed first, but with priority given to items that are in stock.

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Britten Choral Edition Volume 2

Britten Choral Edition Volume 2


Britten:

Jubilate Deo in E flat major (1934)

Te Deum in C

Antiphon, Op. 56b

Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63

A Wedding Anthem, Op. 46

Sweet the Song

A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28

Festival Te Deum in E, Op. 32

Jubilate Deo in C major (1961)


Finzi Singers, Paul Spicer

Chandos - CHAN9598

(CD)

$17.49

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Britten: A Ceremony of Carols

Britten: A Ceremony of Carols


Britten:

A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28

for treble voices and harp

Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63

for boys' voices and organ

A Hymn to the Virgin

for double choir

A Hymn of Saint Columba

for choir and organ

Deus in adjutorium meum (Psalm 70)

for unaccompanied choir

Jubilate Deo in E flat major (1934)

for choir and organ


James O'Donnell (organ), Sioned Williams (harp)

Choir of Westminster Cathedral, David Hill

Building a Library

Also Recommended - December 2004

Hyperion - CDA66220

(CD)

$17.49

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The Matchless Maidens of Bath Abbey

The Matchless Maidens of Bath Abbey


Bach, J S:

Seufzer, tränen

(Oboe) Harriet Armston-Clarke, (’cello) Michael Mace & (Chamber Organ) Marcus Sealy

Britten:

Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63

Byrd:

An earthly tree

Cornelius:

The Three Kings

Fauré:

Tantum ergo, Op. 65 No. 2

Franck, C:

Panis Angelicus

Handel:

Let the bright seraphim (from Samson)

Gavin Wells (trumpet)

Harris, W:

King of glory

Ireland:

Ex ore innocentium (It is a Thing Most Wonderful)

Mendelssohn:

Laudate Pueri, Op. 39 No. 2

Lift Thine Eyes to the Mountains from Elijah

Mozart:

Agnus Dei (from Coronation Mass)

Poulenc:

Litanies à la Vierge noire

Schubert:

Psalm 23 'Gott ist mein Hirt', D706

(Piano) Marcus Sealy

Stanford:

A Song of Wisdom Op. 113


Bath Abbey Girls’ Choir, Peter King

Regent - REGCD229

(CD)

$15.99

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A Ceremony of Carols

A Ceremony of Carols


Britten:

A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28

A Boy was Born, Op. 3

A Shepherd's Carol

Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63

The Sycamore Tree - Sweet was the Song


The Sixteen, Harry Christophers

Coro - COR16034

(CD)

$13.99

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Britten: Missa Brevis

Britten: Missa Brevis

and other works for treble voices


Archer:

Brightest and Best

Lead kindly light

When I survey the wondrous cross

Blake, L:

And now another day is gone

Boulanger, N:

Lux Aeterna

Britten:

Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63

Dyson:

Nunc Dimittis in D

Evans, D J:

Be still, for the presence of the Lord

Fauré:

Requiem: Pie Jesu

Ireland:

Ex ore innocentium (It is a Thing Most Wonderful)

Lundy:

Song for a young prophet

Mendelssohn:

Elijah: If with all your hearts

Moore, P:

We give thee thanks, O Lord

Plumstead:

A grateful heart

Rawsthorne, N:

I will lift up mine eyes

Vann:

I call on thee

Vaughan Williams:

The Call


Kieran White (treble), David Bednall (organ)

The Boy Choristers of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer

Lammas - LAMM171D

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$17.99

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Choir of Kings College Cambridge

Choir of Kings College Cambridge


Britten:

Hymn to St Cecilia, Op. 27

A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28

Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63

Festival Te Deum in E, Op. 32

Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30

Te Deum in C

Jubilate Deo in C major (1961)


Choir of Kings College Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks, Sir Philip Ledger

Recorded 1971, 1972 & 1974

Building a Library

First Choice - December 2004

EMI Great Artists of the Century - 5627962

(CD)

$8.99

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The Golden Vanity

The Golden Vanity

Music for Boys' Voices by Benjamin Britten


Britten:

The Golden Vanity

A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28

Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63

Children's Crusade Op. 82


Clive Driskill-Smith (organ)

The Choristers of Christ Church Cathedral Oxford, Stephen Darlington

Lammas - LAMM146D

(CD)

$17.99

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Benjamin Britten - Sacred Choral Music

Benjamin Britten - Sacred Choral Music


Britten:

Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30

Te Deum in C

Jubilate Deo in C major (1961)

Antiphon, Op. 56b

A Hymn to the Virgin

Festival Te Deum in E, Op. 32

Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63

Hymn to St. Peter, Op. 56a

A Hymn of Saint Columba

Prelude and Fugue on a Theme of Vittoria

Hymn to St Cecilia, Op. 27


Iain Farrington (organ), Benedict Giles (treble), Malcolm Green (bass), Simon Wall (tenor), Thomas Williams (alto), Joseph Helps (treble), Oliver Lepage-Dean (treble), Christopher de la Hoyde (alto), William Goldring (treble), Edward Minton (treble), Ben Harrison (treble)

St. John's College Choir, Cambridge, Christopher Robinson

"With Britten comes the thought of high voices: boys' voices that on this Naxos disc belong to the choir of St. John's College, Cambridge… the St. John's singers roundly capture the elusive tonal qualities of Britten's choral music, and the recording has a proper sense of space and locality." BBC Music (Nicholas Williams), June 2000

Naxos English Choral Music - 8554791

(CD)

$6.99

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English Choral Music of the 20th Century

English Choral Music of the 20th Century


Berkeley, L:

Crux fidelis, Op. 43 No. 1

Missa Brevis, Op. 57

Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, Op. 99

Three Latin Motets, Op. 83, No. 1

The Lord is my Shepherd, Op. 91 No. 1

Mass for Five Voices, Op. 64

Look up, sweet babe, Op. 43 No. 2

A Festival Anthem, Op. 21, No. 2

Three Pieces for organ, Op. 72, No. 1: Toccata

Britten:

Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30

Te Deum in C

Jubilate Deo in C major (1961)

Antiphon, Op. 56b

A Hymn to the Virgin

Festival Te Deum in E, Op. 32

Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63

Hymn to St. Peter, Op. 56a

A Hymn of Saint Columba

Prelude and Fugue on a Theme of Vittoria

Hymn to St Cecilia, Op. 27

Elgar:

Give unto the Lord (Psalm XXIX), Op. 74

Ave verum corpus, Op. 2 No. 1

Ave Maria, Op. 2 No. 2

Ave maris stella, Op. 2 No. 3

O hearken Thou, Op. 64

Te Deum laudamus, Op. 34, No. 1

Benedictus, Op. 34 No. 2

O Salutaris Hostia

Great is the Lord (Psalm XLVIII), Op. 67

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me (from The Apostles)

Go, song of mine, Op. 57

The Light of Life, Op. 29 'Lux Christi' (excerpts)

Finzi:

God is gone up, Op. 27 No. 2

Magnificat, Op. 36

My lovely one, Op. 27 No. 1

Welcome Sweet and Sacred Feast, Op. 27 No. 3

Thou didst delight my eyes, Op. 32

Let us now praise famous men, Op. 35

Seven Partsongs, Op. 17

Lo, the Full, Final Sacrifice, Op. 26

Howells:

Magnificat & Nunc dimittis (St Paul's, 1951)

Like as the Hart

Paean

Requiem

Long, Long Ago

Office of Holy Communion (Collegium Regale)

Rhapsody for Organ No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 17 No. 3

Take him, earth, for cherishing

Leighton:

Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis (Collegium Madgalenae Oxonienses)

Give me the wings of faith

An Easter Sequence

Veni creator spiritus

What love is this of thine?

Crucifixus pro nobis, Op. 38

Rockingham: Chorale Prelude on 'When I survey the wondrous Cross'

Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis (Second Service), Op. 62

Rubbra:

Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in A flat major, Op. 65

Missa in honorem Sancti Dominici, Op. 66

Prelude and Fugue on a Theme of Cyril Scott, Op. 69

Tenebrae Motets, Op. 72: First, Second & Third Nocturns

Meditation for Organ, Op. 79

Missa Cantuariensis, Op. 59

Stanford:

Morning Service in C major, Op. 115

Three Latin Motets, Op. 38

Evening Service in C major, Op. 115

Communion Service in C major, Op. 115

Prelude for Organ in G minor

Evening Service in G major, Op. 81

Postlude for Organ in D minor

For lo, I raise up, Op. 145

Tavener:

God is With Us (A Christmas Proclamation)

Song for Athene

The Lamb

The Tiger

Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis (Collegium Regale)

Funeral Ikos

Two Hymns to the Mother of God

Love bade me welcome

As one who has slept

The Lord's Prayer

Svyati 'O Holy One'

Walton:

Coronation Te Deum

A Litany 'Drop, drop slow tears'

Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis

Where does the uttered music go?

Jubilate Deo

Henry V: Touch her soft lips and part

Cantico del Sole

Henry V: Passacaglia "Death of Falstaff"

The Twelve

Set me as a seal upon thine heart

Antiphon

Missa Brevis


Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge, Christopher Robinson

Up to 40% off Box Sets

Naxos English Choral Music - 8501007

(CD - 10 discs)

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Special: $37.49

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Benjamin Britten - The Collector’s Edition

Benjamin Britten - The Collector’s Edition


Britten:

Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pesek

Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Op. 33a

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pesek

The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pesek

Canadian Carnival Overture, Op. 19

Wesley Warren (trumpet)

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

Diversions for piano (left hand) and orchestra, Op. 21

Peter Donohoe (piano)

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

Scottish Ballad, Op. 26

Peter Donohoe & Philip Fowke (pianos)

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

An American Overture

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

Occasional Overture, Op. 38

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

The Building of the House

CBSO Chorus & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

Piano Concerto, Op. 13

Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi

Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 15

Ida Haendel (violin)

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Berglund

Young Apollo, Op. 16

Peter Donohoe (piano), Felix Kok, Jeremy Ballard (violins), Peter Cole (viola) & Michal Kaznowski (cello)

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

Simple Symphony, Op. 4

Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Iona Brown

Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10

Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Iona Brown

Prelude & Fugue Op. 29

Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Iona Brown

Lachrymae for viola & strings, Op. 48a

Lars Anders Tomter (viola)

Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Iona Brown

Gloriana - Symphonic Suite Op. 53a

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Takuo Yuasa

Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 68

Steven Isserlis (cello)

City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox

Men of Goodwill (Variations on a Christmas Carol for orchestra)

Minnesota Orchestra, Sir Neville Marriner

Sinfonietta, Op. 1

Pauline Lowbury & Julian Tear (violins)

Britten Sinfonia, Daniel Harding

Russian Funeral

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

Suite on English Folk Tunes 'A Time there was', Op. 90

Peter Walden (cor anglais)

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

Matinees musicales - ballet suite Op.24

English Chamber Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson

Soirees musicales - ballet suite Op.9

English Chamber Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson

Rossini Suite original version of Soirées Musicales

Boys of the Choir of Paisley & Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford

The Prince of the Pagodas, Op. 57

London Sinfonietta, Oliver Knussen

Rhapsody for String Quartet

Endellion String Quartet

Quartettino

Endellion String Quartet

String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 25

Endellion String Quartet

Phantasy in F minor for string quintet

Nicholas Logie (viola)

Endellion String Quartet

Elegy for unaccompanied viola

Garfield Jackson (viola)

Phantasy Quartet Op. 2 for oboe, violin, viola & cello

Endellion String Quartet

Three Divertimenti

Endellion String Quartet

String Quartet No. 2 in C major, Op. 36

Endellion String Quartet

String Quartet in D major (1931)

Endellion String Quartet

String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94

Endellion String Quartet

Suite No. 1 for cello solo, Op. 72

Truls Mørk (cello)

Suite No. 3 for cello solo, Op. 87

Truls Mørk (cello)

Suite No. 2 for cello solo, Op. 80

Truls Mørk (cello)

Holiday Diary Op. 5 for solo piano

Stephen Hough, Ronan O’Hara (pianos)

Three Character Pieces

Stephen Hough, Ronan O’Hara (pianos)

Moderato, Nocturne & Twelve Variations on a Theme from Sonatina romantica

Stephen Hough, Ronan O’Hara (pianos)

Five Waltzes for piano

Stephen Hough, Ronan O’Hara (pianos)

Two Lullabies for Two Pianos

Stephen Hough, Ronan O’Hara (pianos)

Introduction and Rondo alla burlesca, op.23 No.1

Stephen Hough, Ronan O’Hara (pianos)

Suite Op. 6

Alexander Barantschik (violin) & John Adey (piano)

Sonata for cello and piano in C major, Op. 65

Moray Welsh (cello) & John Lenehan (piano)

Six Metamorphoses after Ovid for solo oboe, Op. 49

Roy Carter (oboe)

Nocturnal after John Dowland: Reflections on ‘Come, heavy Sleep', Op. 70

Julian Bream (guitar)

War Requiem, Op. 66

Elisabeth Söderström (soprano), Robert Tear (tenor), Sir Thomas Allen (baritone) & Mark Blatchly (chamber organ)

Boys of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, CBSO Chorus & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

Spring Symphony, Op. 44

Sheila Armstrong (soprano), Dame Janet Baker (contralto) & Robert Tear (tenor)

St. Clement Danes School Boys’ Choir, London Symphony Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn

Hymn to St Cecilia, Op. 27

Richard Cross (treble)

Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks

A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28

James Clark, Julian Godlee (trebles) & Osian Ellis (harp)

Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks

Missa Brevis in D major, Op. 63

Julian Brown, Christopher Anderson, Anthony Sackville, Rory Phillips & James Clark (trebles) & Ian Hare (organ)

Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks

Festival Te Deum in E, Op. 32

Simon Channing (treble) & James Lancelot (organ)

Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir Philip Ledger

Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30

Simon Channing (treble), James Bowman (countertenor), Richard Morton (tenor), Marcus Creed (bass), James Lancelot (organ) & David Corkhill (percussion)

Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir Philip Ledger

Te Deum in C

Rory Phillips (treble) & James Lancelot (organ)

Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir Philip Ledger

Jubilate Deo in C major (1961)

Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir Philip Ledger

A Hymn to the Virgin

Stephen Barton (treble), Hugh Hudleston (treble), Warren Trevelyan-Jones (tenor) & Francis Pott (bass)

Winchester Cathedral Choir, David Hill

St Nicolas, Op. 42

Words by Eric Crozier

Robert Tear (tenor), Bruce Russell (treble), Andrew Davis & Ian Hare (piano duet

Cambridge Girls’ Choir, Choir of King’s College, Cambridge & Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir David Willcocks

Hymn to St. Peter, Op. 56a

Mark Emney, Peter Rowe (trebles) & Timothy Farrell (organ)

Wandsworth School Choir, Russell Burgess

A Hymn of Saint Columba

Mark Emney, Peter Rowe (trebles), Christopher Hughes, Timothy Farrell (organ)

Choir of King’s College, Cambridge & Wandsworth School Choir, Russell Burgess

Sacred and Profane, Op. 91

Vasari Singers, Jeremy Backhouse

The Little Sweep

Words by Eric Crozier

Robert Lloyd, Robert Tear, Sam Monck, Heather Begg, Catherine Benson, Cato Fordham, Catherine Wearing, Mary Wells, David Glick, Colin Huehns & Katherine Willis

Finchley Children’s Music Group, Choral Scholars of King’s College, Cambridge & Medici String Quartet, Sir Philip Ledger

A Boy was Born, Op. 3

London Sinfonietta Chorus & Choristers of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Terry Edwards

A Shepherd's Carol

Sarah Leonard (soprano), Susan Bickley (mezzo-soprano), Peter Hall (tenor) & Gordon Jones (baritone)

London Sinfonietta Chorus, Terry Edwards

Noye's Fludde

Richard Pasco, Donald Maxwell, Linda Ormiston, Alexander Gallifant, Timothy Lamb, Nicholas Berry, Catriona Johnson, Polly Hewetson & Joanna Brown

Coull String Quartet & Schools’ Orchestra from schools of Salisbury and Chester, Richard Hickox

A.M.D.G.

London Sinfonietta Chorus, Terry Edwards

The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard (Text: The Oxford Book of Ballads)

Baccholian Singers of London

The Company of Heaven

Peter Barkworth, Sheila Allen (narrators), Cathryn Pope (soprano), Dan Dressen (tenor) & Christopher Herrick (organ)

London Philharmonic Choir & English Chamber Orchestra, Philip Brunelle

Ballad of Heroes, Op. 14

Robert Tear (tenor)

CBSO Chorus & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

Praise We Great Men

Alison Hargan (soprano), Mary King (contralto), Robert Tear (tenor) & Willard White (bass)

CBSO Chorus & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

Les illuminations, Op. 18

Heather Harper (soprano)

Northern Sinfonia Orchestra, Sir Neville Marriner

Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op. 31

Neil Mackie (tenor) & Barry Tuckwell (horn)

Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford

Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal, for tenor, horn and strings

orch. Colin Matthews

Neil Mackie (tenor) & Barry Tuckwell (horn)

Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford

Nocturne, Op. 60 for tenor, obbligato instruments and strings

Robert Tear (tenor)

English Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate

Quatre Chansons Françaises

Jill Gomez (soprano)

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

Our Hunting Fathers, Op. 8

Elisabeth Söderström (soprano)

Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, Richard Armstrong

Four Folksong Settings

Elisabeth Söderström (soprano)

Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, Richard Armstrong

Phaedra, Op. 93

Felicity Palmer (mezzo-soprano), Jane Salmon (cello) & Melvyn Tan (harpsichord)

Endymion Ensemble, John Whitfield

Five French Folksong arrangements

Felicity Palmer (mezzo-soprano)

Endymion Ensemble, John Whitfield

Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, Op. 22

Peter Pears (tenor) & Benjamin Britten (piano)

The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op. 35

Peter Pears (tenor) & Benjamin Britten (piano)

On this Island, Op. 11

Robert Tear (tenor) & Sir Philip Ledger (piano)

Winter Words, Op. 52

Robert Tear (tenor) & Sir Philip Ledger (piano)

Canticles I-V

Ian Bostridge (tenor), David Daniels (countertenor), Christopher Maltman (baritone), Timothy Brown (horn), Aline Brewer (harp) & Julius Drake (piano)

Folksong Arrangements: The Plough Boy, The Salley Gardens, The foggy, foggy dew, There's none to soothe, O Waly, Waly, The Ash Grove, Greensleeves

Ian Bostridge (tenor), David Daniels (countertenor), Christopher Maltman (baritone), Timothy Brown (horn), Aline Brewer (harp) & Julius Drake (piano)

Two songs by Thomas Hardy

Neil Mackie (tenor) & Roger Vignoles (piano)

Beware

Neil Mackie (tenor) & Roger Vignoles (piano)

Two songs by W.H. Auden

Neil Mackie (tenor) & Roger Vignoles (piano)

Three rhymes by William Soutar

Neil Mackie (tenor) & Roger Vignoles (piano)

Tit for Tat

Jonathan Lemalu (bass baritone) & Malcolm Martineau (piano)

Two Ballads for two voices and piano

Felicity Lott (soprano) & Ann Murray (mezzo-soprano)

Folksong arrangements

Robert Tear (tenor) & Sir Philip Ledger (piano)

Folksong arrangements

Sarah Brightman (soprano) & Geoffrey Parsons (piano)

Paul Bunyan

Soloists, Chorus & Orchestra of the Plymouth Music Series, Philip Brunelle

Peter Grimes

Recorded: VI.1992, Watford Town Hall

Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Felicity Lott, Thomas Allen, Patricia Payne, Maria Bovino, Gillian Webster, Stuart Kale, Stafford Dean, Sarah Walker, Neil Jenkins, Simon Keenlyside, David Wilson-Johnson

Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Bernard Haitink

The Turn of the Screw

Recorded: 17–19.I.2002, Maltings Concert Hall, Snape, Suffolk

Ian Bostridge, Joan Rodgers, Julian Leang, Caroline Wise, Jane Henschel, Vivian Tierney

Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Daniel Harding

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Recorded: XI.1990

James Bowman, Lillian Watson, Dexter Fletcher, John Graham-Hall, Henry Herford, Della Jones, Jill Gomez, Norman Bailey, Penelope Walker

Trinity Boys’ Choir, City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox

The Rape of Lucretia

Abridged recording of the revised version (1947), Recorded: 16–19.VII. & 19.X.1947, No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London

Peter Pears, Joan Cross, Norman Lumsden, Denis Dowling, Frederick Sharp, Nancy Evans, Flora Nielsen, Margaret Ritchie

English Opera Group Chamber Orchestra, Reginald Goodall


Benjamin Britten was born on the day of the Patron Saint of Music – St. Cecilia – 22nd November in 1913 in Lowestoft. He showed remarkable skill at composition from his earliest days. In 1924 he met Frank Bridge (1879-1941), a fine composer in his own right, and became his pupil; through him he developed an appreciation of contemporary music with scores by Bartók and the Schönberg school, particulary Berg.

In 1930 he entered the Royal College of Music and developed the pianistic skills which made him such a brilliant interpreter of both his own music and other greats particularly Mozart and Schubert. From these times date the beautiful A Hymn to the Virgin, Quatre Chansons Françaises and the Sinfonietta, his official Op. 1. He visited Vienna in 1934 and saw Wozzeck but family resistance prevented him studying with Berg (who, in any case, died from blood poisoning caused by an insect sting a year later).

He worked for some years in the film unit of the General Post Office where he met W.H. Auden whose poetry inspired the brilliant song cycle Our Hunting Fathers. The experience in the film unit enabled him to develop the expressive immediacy and technical abilities – often using small and unconventional resources – which would assist his composition of operas in the years to come.

In 1939 he decided to follow Auden to America, accompanying him was the tenor Peter Pears (1910-1986) who was to be the inspiration behind so many great operatic roles and song cycles. There he composed the Sinfonia da Requiem, the Michelangelo Sonnets and the First Quartet. His first opera, Paul Bunyan, to an Auden libretto, was also composed there but then withdrawn (it was revived for the Aldeburgh Festival in the year he died).

He started to get the pangs of homesickness especially when he read, by chance, an article by E.M. Forster on the Suffolk poet Crabbe (whose work was to lead to arguably his greatest success) and he returned to England in 1942. He wrote A Ceremony of Carols and Hymn to St. Cecilia (another Auden text) during this year.

For British Opera the date 7th June 1945 will always remain a red-letter day as it heralded the premiere of a masterpiece, Peter Grimes. The triumph not only established Britten as Purcell’s successor as Britain’s greatest music dramatist but its numerous performances abroad showed that Britain had an international composer celebrity.

The Rape of Lucretia was premiered the following year as was the work by which Britten is probably best remembered – certainly by thankful schoolchildren for their guide to the Orchestra. Here he subjects the theme by Purcell to a series of ingenious variations played by each member of the orchestra and then as groups and finally a fugue where everything comes together in a simply unforgettable coda.

Indeed when one examines Britten’s output it is hard not to credit him with at least one work of genius, if not a masterpiece, virtually every year for the rest of his composing life – whether it be an opera, for example The Turn of the Screw in 1954 or A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1960; a choral work, for example Spring Symphony in 1949 or the War Requiem in 1961, a large vocal work, for example Serenade for tenor, horn and strings in 1943, Nocturne in 1958 and Phaedra in 1975; a smaller vocal work, for example the Canticles of 1947, 1952, 1954, 1971 & 1974; the works he wrote for Mstislav Rostropovich – the Cello Sonata in 1961, the Cello Symphony in 1963 and the three Solo Cello Suites in 1964, 1967 & 1971; the two remaining string quartets in 1945 & 1975 and a full length ballet The Prince of the Pagodas in 1956.

Besides setting many classic poets from Britain including Blake, Burns, Coleridge, Donne, Hardy, Keats, Jonson, Milton, Owen, Shakespeare, Shelley, Spenser, Tennyson and Wordsworth he also set texts in French (Hugo, Rimbaud and Verlaine), Italian (Michelangelo), German (Hölderlin) and Russian (Pushkin). He was also partly responsible for the reawakening of interest in the music of his great predecessor, Henry Purcell by making realizations of a large number of his works. He also launched the music festival in his adopted town of Aldeburgh.

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EMI - 2175262

(CD - 37 discs)

$111.49

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