Special offer. Benjamin Britten: Canticles
James Way (tenor), Natalie Burch (piano), Lotte Betts-Dean (mezzo), Annemarie Federle (horn), Hugh Cutting (countertenor), Ross Ramgobin (baritone), Alis Huws (harp)
Awards:
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Gramophone Awards, 2025 Shortlist, Song
In ‘Canticle I’ the English tenor James Way is generally fierier than Pears, if a little less punctilious in voicing the melismas Britten typically writes into the vocal part...Interpretively...
Special offer. Benjamin Britten: Canticles
James Way (tenor), Natalie Burch (piano), Lotte Betts-Dean (mezzo), Annemarie Federle (horn), Hugh Cutting (countertenor), Ross Ramgobin (baritone), Alis Huws (harp)
Purchase product
Awards:
-
Gramophone Awards, 2025 Shortlist, Song
In ‘Canticle I’ the English tenor James Way is generally fierier than Pears, if a little less punctilious in voicing the melismas Britten typically writes into the vocal part...Interpretively...
About
Benjamin Britten's five Canticles, written for his lover and muse Peter Pears,stand as some of his most intimate and spiritually charged music. Composed across a period of nearly thirty years, they respect Britten's evolving response to poetry, religion and the human condition. Tenor James Way and his duo partner and wife Natalie Burch lead an exceptional line-up of musicians in performances that capture the emotional depth and complexity of these unique pieces.
The programme also features Priaulx Rainier's unaccompanied Cycle for Declamation, written for Pears in 1955 - settingsof Donne that, in their intensity and introspection, and common ground with Britten's Canticles.
Contents and tracklist
- James Way, Natalie Burch
- James Way, Lotte Betts-Dean, Natalie Burch
- James Way, Annemarie Federle, Natalie Burch
- Hugh Cutting, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, Natalie Burch
- James Way, Alis Huws
- James Way
Spotlight on this release
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Awards and reviews
April 2025
In ‘Canticle I’ the English tenor James Way is generally fierier than Pears, if a little less punctilious in voicing the melismas Britten typically writes into the vocal part...Interpretively speaking, this is a fresh and nourishing recital.
April 2025
Way’s instinctive understanding of this stimulating repertoire seems remarkably complete, and he displays a technical security, mellifluousness of timbre and range of tone-colour that excite admiration. Moreover, pianist Natalie Burch offers wonderfully empathetic and deftly poised support throughout.
26th February 2025
[Way is] never less than eloquent, and blends wonderfully with the mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean as the voice of God in Abraham and Isaac...The most brilliant turn of all comes from Way alone, singing Priaulx Rainier’s starkly powerful Cycle for Declamation from 1954. A fascinating and rewarding release.
