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Britten: Les Illuminations and other works
Julie Roset (soprano), Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Lawrence Foster
the soprano voice brings a special clarity to this dazzling music [Les Illuminations] and this is one of the finest performances of its kind I've ever heard: it conjures the young Rimbaud's... —
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Britten: Serenade, Les Illuminations & Nocturne
RecommendedIan Bostridge (tenor), Radek Baborák (horn)
Berliner Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle
Best of all is Nocturne, more spartan and enigmatic, about which he makes some very perceptive comments and where he seems more engaged; the anguished 'Prelude' is fiercely impressive. So are... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, December 2005, Disc of the Month
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Britten: Les Illuminations; Quatre Chansons françaises & Canteloube: Chants d'Auvergne
Mari Eriksmoen (soprano)
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner
In Britten’s Les illuminations, the generally belllike accuracy of Norwegian soprano Mari Eriksmoen’s singing is more than matched by the expressive truth of her interpretations. She is most... —
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Unknown Britten
RecommendedSandrine Piau (soprano), Rolf Hind (piano), Michael Thompson, Richard Watkins, Peter Francomb & Chris Griffiths (horns), Michael Collins (clarinet)
Northern Sinfonia, Thomas Zehetmair
Britten completed but didn't orchestrate the songs - 'Phrase', 'Aube' and 'À une raison'; Matthews matches them finely to the style of Illuminations. While the cycle is often associated with... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 28th September 2009
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Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2009, Disc of the Month
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Visions Illuminées
RecommendedMary Bevan (soprano), Joseph Middleton (piano), 12 Ensemble, Ruisi Quartet
The heart of the recital is a radiantly searching performance of Britten’s Les illuminations...Bevan’s ability to combine warmth with refreshing vigour is to the fore in Chausson’s Chanson perpétuelle... —
Awards:
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Presto Editor's Choice, February 2023
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2023
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Britten conducts Britten vol. 4
RecommendedSviatoslav Richter (piano), Mark Lubotsky (violin), Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), Julius Katchen (piano), Peter Pears (tenor), Benjamin Britten (piano), John Shirley-Quirk (baritone), Barry Tuckwell (horn), Alexander Murray (flute), Gervase de Peyer (clarinet),...
Awards:
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Building a Library, February 2010, First Choice
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Building a Library, May 2018, Also recommended
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Very Best of English Song
RecommendedDame Janet Baker (mezzo), Gerald Moore (piano), Sir Thomas Allen (baritone), Geoffrey Parsons (piano), Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor), David Willison (piano), Ian Partridge (tenor), Janet Craxton (piano), Ian Bostridge (tenor), Julius Drake (piano), Jonathan Lemalu (bass-baritone), Roger Vignoles...
Awards:
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Building a Library, June 2018, Also recommended
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Building a Library, January 2021, Recommended orchestral version (Songs of Travel)
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Vladimir Jurowski conducts Britten
Sally Matthews (soprano), Pieter Schoeman (violin) & Alexander Zemtsov (viola)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski
The Double Concerto… is far more than an interesting curiosity. Strongly shaped, impassioned and poetic, with warm, clear recorded sound, this is about as good a version as one could hope for. —
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Special offer. Paul Daniel conducts Barber, Berlioz & Britten
Anne-Catherine Gillet (soprano)
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Paul Daniel
singing her native French, she treats the Berlioz and Britten with a light touch...Gillet and her conductor, Paul Daniel, are at their nest in a well-paced 'Le spectre de la rose', which captures... —
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Britten: Serenade, Les Illuminations and Quatre Chansons Françaises
RecommendedFelicity Lott (soprano), Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor), Michael Thompson (horn)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bryden Thomson
there are many felicities in Rolfe Johnson's voice to enjoy. Notice how subtly he phrases the different moods within Nocturne, for example, and brings out the changes of texture in the poem...Felicity... —
Awards:
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Building a Library, July 2004, First Choice
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