Special offer. Britten: Works for voice & string orchestra
Barbara Hannigan (soprano), James Gilchrist (tenor) & Jasper de Waal (horn)
Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Candida Thompson (artistic director)
Hannigan brings a fined-down intensity to the more hushed Rimbaud settings such as 'Being Beauteous', but elsewhere her tone tends to flutter under pressure...Gilchrist, by contrast, sounds...
Special offer. Britten: Works for voice & string orchestra
Barbara Hannigan (soprano), James Gilchrist (tenor) & Jasper de Waal (horn)
Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Candida Thompson (artistic director)
Purchase product
Hannigan brings a fined-down intensity to the more hushed Rimbaud settings such as 'Being Beauteous', but elsewhere her tone tends to flutter under pressure...Gilchrist, by contrast, sounds...
About
In 2013 it is exactly one hundred years ago that the English genius Benjamin Britten was born. Britten’s brilliant manner of writing for string orchestra, his unique treatment of text, and his rich repertory of musical colours are all abundantly clear from the masterpieces featured on this recording. Besides the excellent soprano Barbara Hannigan, who sparkles in ‘Les Illuminations’, tenor James Gilchrist and hornist Jasper de Waal deliver an impressive contribution to this production with Amsterdam Sinfonietta.
The orchestra herself indulges in all imaginable techniques, colours and dynamic extremes that Britten releases from his box of tricks for string orchestra. Amsterdam Sinfonietta is an ensemble of 22 gifted musicians from around the world. The group performs without conductor, under the direction of Candida Thompson, artistic director since 2003. The ensemble’s defining feature is the strong involvement and artistic drive of each individual member. The group has gained a reputation for its distinguished performances and innovative programming.
Amsterdam Sinfonietta collaborates with renowned artists and performs in major venues around throughout the world. In the last seasons the group toured Europe, China, the US and Australia.
Contents and tracklist
Spotlight on this release
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James Gilchrist talks to Presto Classical about recording the Serenade -
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The Making of the Album -
James Gilchrist on Britten
1st Feb 2013
The English tenor discusses his new recording of the Serenade for tenor, horn and strings with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta, out now on Channel Classics.
Awards and reviews
April 2013
Hannigan brings a fined-down intensity to the more hushed Rimbaud settings such as 'Being Beauteous', but elsewhere her tone tends to flutter under pressure...Gilchrist, by contrast, sounds at home in the Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings...and while his slightly reedy timbre sounds very different to Peter Pears, he brings equally valid insights into this iconic cycle.
23rd February 2013
wonderfully alert readings by the Amsterdam Sinfonietta
March 2013
Hannigan brings to the text the dramatic energy she has to burn in her championship of Ligeti and Boulez, while the conductorless orchestra and soloist (herself sometimes a conductor) sound a natural fit...[in the Serenade] both soloists play their parts quite straight...An enjoyable and carefully balanced CD
3rd March 2013
Gilchrist’s Serenade, with Jasper de Waal the stupendous horn soloist, is one of the best things the English tenor has done on disc — Pears-like in its intensity and crystalline diction. The Sinfonietta’s strings have a whale of a time as a band of wannabe Paganinis in the Aria Italiana of the Bridge Variations.
Audiophile Audition April 2013
The strings were absolutely beautiful, transients and attacks were sharp, voices were natural, and the totality of the experience was musical and satisfying in every way...Frankly, I can’t imagine recorded music sounding much bette
27th April 2013
Candida Thompson’s Amsterdam Sinfonietta disc is pretty special – vibrant, incisive and colourful...Hannigan’s account of Les Illuminations is strong, her quickfire delivery in Parade a highlight...Gilchrist’s vibrato is strong but totally idiomatic, matched by Jasper der Waal’s bright-toned, very European horn sound.
