Benjamin Britten

[Mirror Image]

Britten's quartets are great, and the 3rd is plain awesome. I recommend the Belcea, the Endellion is also great (in the complete set IIRC).

I don't any of Britten's SQs, so I took your recommendation and bought:

[The new erato]

I don't any of Britten's SQs, so I took your recommendation and bought:

I've always thought you a wise man . Better buy too much than too little. Cheap set too, will love your impressions.

[Mirror Image]

I've always thought you a wise man . Better buy too much than too little. Cheap set too, will love your impressions.

Well, I always like to have at least one recording of my favorite composers SQs in my collection.

[TheGSMoeller]

Britten's quartets are great, and the 3rd is plain awesome. I recommend the Belcea, the Endellion is also great (in the complete set IIRC).

I also enjoy the Britten Quartet's recordings (they ought to be able to play them well), the tempi is more relaxed overall than Belcea, but both are wonderful.

Available in this 2fer from Brilliant...





Jupiter SQ also have a great disc out featuring Britten's 2nd along with DSCH's 3rd.

[not edward]

Phaedra is marvelous.

Agreed, as is so much of Britten's vocal music--his vocal writing always sounds very natural, yet expressively complex.

I've often wondered how much of Shostakovich's turn towards vocal music in later life was partially inspired by his close friendship with Britten; it seems hard to believe that the two didn't share thoughts on composition given their often-related musical interests (not to mention the dedication of the 14th symphony to Britten).

[vandermolen]

Agreed, as is so much of Britten's vocal music--his vocal writing always sounds very natural, yet expressively complex.

I've often wondered how much of Shostakovich's turn towards vocal music in later life was partially inspired by his close friendship with Britten; it seems hard to believe that the two didn't share thoughts on composition given their often-related musical interests (not to mention the dedication of the 14th symphony to Britten).

I suspect that you are right about Symphony 14. I listened to the great War Requiem today (Naxos) and noted the similarity between the opening and that of Shostakovich's 5th Symphony - so I guess that the influence worked both ways - they were friends after all.

[KeithW]

In today's Guardian - Ian Bostridge's top ten Britten works

http://gu.com/p/3dx82

[TheGSMoeller]

In today's Guardian - Ian Bostridge's top ten Britten works

http://gu.com/p/3dx82

Thanks for sharing. Good list, Bostridge offers some nice descriptions also.

[Octave]

A friend just emailed me this tidbit:

BBC MUSIC magazine, January 2013, p. 14:
<<<Decca is releasing a complete, 62-CD, four DVD edition of Britten's works, bringing together both the major recordings Britten made for the label, and key performances made for other labels as well.

That is pretty impressive, and an enormous expansion on the collected contents of the BRITTEN CONDUCTS BRITTEN series.  I cannot wait for this.
I wonder what percentage of the contents is music other than Britten's being conducted or played by him?

And likewise, thanks Keith for that Bostridge link. 

[Leo K.]

Feel a Britten phase coming on!

[TheGSMoeller]

Feel a Britten phase coming on!

I'm in a constant Britten phase, it's a great place to be. What are some of you favorite Britten pieces, Leo?

[Mirror Image]

Feel a Britten phase coming on!

Nothing wrong with that, Leo! I like many of Britten's works, but I can't get into his vocal works (except the Serenade and Nocturne) which take up a good chunk of his oeuvre. I've got many recordings of his orchestral works on disc. I'm thinking about revisiting the Naxos series.

[Leo K.]

Thanks gentleman! Britten is still new to my ears, have began listening to his instrumental works; cello symphony, Variations of Frank Bridge, Violin Concertos, Young Person's Guide to name a few. The music, especially the incredible Frank Bridge Variations is gradually getting on my daily playlist. I'm noticing a theme in my current listening, which seems to be a desire to hear more British composers, of which I feel is a huge blind spot in my collection.

[TheGSMoeller]

Thanks gentleman! Britten is still new to my ears, have began listening to his instrumental works; cello symphony, Variations of Frank Bridge, Violin Concertos, Young Person's Guide to name a few. The music, especially the incredible Frank Bridge Variations is gradually getting on my daily playlist. I'm noticing a theme in my current listening, which seems to be a desire to hear more British composers, of which I feel is a huge blind spot in my collection.

Good list there, Leo. Not sure what genre interests you more, but for chamber you must get his SQ no.2 and 3 or Lachrymae (the version for viola and strings), for opera I would suggest Death in Venice and Phaedra (ok, it's a 15-minute one act opera), vocal works like Serenade for Tenor, French Horn and Strings and Canticle: II Abraham and Isaac, for symphonic pieces Sinfonia da Requiem or the Symphonic Suite from Gloriana.

And for pure awesomeness, War Requiem.

[Mirror Image]

Thanks gentleman! Britten is still new to my ears, have began listening to his instrumental works; cello symphony, Variations of Frank Bridge, Violin Concerto, Young Person's Guide to name a few. The music, especially the incredible Frank Bridge Variations is gradually getting on my daily playlist. I'm noticing a theme in my current listening, which seems to be a desire to hear more British composers, of which I feel is a huge blind spot in my collection.

Have you heard the 'war trilogy' (War Requiem, Ballad of Heroes, Sinfonia da Requiem)? For me, these are some of Britten's most thrilling works and I just like the idea of composer's responding to war (Britten was a pacifist himself). It makes for good listening. No wonder Shostakovich is my favorite composer. Anyway, some other works to check out are Double Concerto (an early work that is impressive), Diversions, Simple Symphony, Piano Concerto, Scottish Ballad, and The Building of the House Overture. What I find so fascinating about Britten's music is that he's quite capable, for example, of throwing the listener a bone with an English folk quotation, but underneath this innocent melody lies a troubled undercurrent. It's almost like biting into something that's sweet but getting a harsh aftertaste. He was ingenious in the way he could orchestrate, build harmonies/melodies, etc. and cast them all in a super-tight structure.

That's it....it's time to change my avatar to Britten!

[Leo K.]

Good list there, Leo. Not sure what genre interests you more, but for chamber you must get his SQ no.2 and 3 or Lachrymae (the version for viola and strings), for opera I would suggest Death in Venice and Phaedra (ok, it's a 15-minute one act opera), vocal works like Serenade for Tenor, French Horn and Strings and Canticle: II Abraham and Isaac, for symphonic pieces Sinfonia da Requiem or the Symphonic Suite from Gloriana.

And for pure awesomeness, War Requiem.

Thanks GS and John, I haven't grabbed his chamber music yet, but I just got his complete operas (Britten Conducts series)! Looks like his War Trilogy is a must! By the way, the Cello Concerto knocked me out of my socks today, wow!

Also have (only vol.4):



So much great music! Life is good!

[Mirror Image]

Thanks GS and John, I haven't grabbed his chamber music yet, but I just got his complete operas (Britten Conducts series)! Looks like his War Trilogy is a must! By the way, the Cello Concerto knocked me out of my socks today, wow!

Also have (only vol.4):



So much great music! Life is good!

The Britten Conducts Britten sets are absolutely essential, Leo. No doubt about it. The only one I'm missing is the one with the song cycles and vocals works. This one:

[asin]B000AC5AY4[/asin]

I'm still getting into his vocal music, but I do like Nocturne and Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings a lot. I need to spend some time to get to know his operas too since this is such an important part of his oeuvre.

By the way, I'm listening to the Cello Symphony right now with Rostropovich and Britten conducting. A haunting work.

[Mirror Image]

I don't any of Britten's SQs, so I took your recommendation and bought:

I still need to listen to these SQs! Looking at my current listening pile and this set is staring right at me! This is getting kind of creepy...

[Mirror Image]

MovieMars (Amazon MP seller) cancelled a bunch of orders I placed. Remember those Karel Ancerl recordings I bought? About four or five of them plus two other recordings I bought from them have been cancelled....ughh....so frustrating, but, nevertheless, this means I can supplement those orders with this set that I bought for $56 from Presto:



Anyway, now I'm a happy camper.

Just thought I would post this message here since it concerns a very large box of Britten.

[Mirror Image]

It doesn't take long to get into a Britten phase for me, especially considering I've admired his music for many years.