Britten Conducts Britten Vol.4

Benjamin Britten | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: February 13, 2007
• Release Date: February 13, 2007
• Number of Discs: 7
• Label: Decca
• Copyright: (C) 2006 Decca Music Group Limited
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 8:19:42
• Genres:
• ASIN: B0017LWUM2
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,807 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Many great works in definitive performances, March 13, 2009

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Britten Conducts Britten (Audio CD)

This 7-CD set, part of Decca's multi-box packaging of Britten's complete output, capturres him in tow roles, eminent composer and superlative conductor. The rpice is incredibly low, the sonics are the best that the industry had to offer in the Sixties and Seventies, and every musician involved was the best that Britain had to offer. The compilers have mixed some very obscure and little played works (the oreintal-flavored baallet, Prine of the Pagodas, the Piano Concerto), acknowledged masterpieces (the Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, Less Illuminations, Nocturne), and some neglected works that deserve the status of masterpieces (the Violin concerto, the Holy Sonnets of John Donne).

Since the whole collection sells at super-bargain price, there's an incentive to buy without risk. Even if certain works don't apppeal -- I almost never relisten to the tough, late music such as the Cello Symphony, for example, and find Prince of the Pagodas a tinkly bore -- there are any number of unknown works that will delight newcomers. Styles range from early and extremely accessible (the Simple Symphony, the Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, without narratory by the way) to some thorny, dark expressions that take real concentration (Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo).

In any event, this is great music-making by any standard. Britten remains the greatest exponent of his own works and is likely to remain that way for decades.

Piano Concerto, Op. 13

Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 15

Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 68

Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20

Cantata Misericordium, Op. 69

Prelude & Fugue for 18 strings, Op. 29

Simple Symphony, Op. 4

Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10

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

The Prince of the Pagodas, Op. 57

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

Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, Op. 22

The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op. 35

Songs and Proverbs of William Blake

Winter Words, Op. 52

Tit for Tat

Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op. 31

Les illuminations, Op. 18

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

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Britten Set, October 6, 2009

By 

J. Rich - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Britten Conducts Britten (Audio CD)

I love Britten's music and there really isn't much competition in the way of performances. This box set, which is primarily comprised of orchestral works is one of the best Britten sets available on the market I think. This set, however, does not include his highly-acclaimed recording of his "War Requiem." It can be bought seperately: Britten: War Requiem.

Britten occupies an interesting time in classical music history. It's before the whole concept of contemporary classical took way. His music looks to the past as much as it does to the future.

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Here's the contents of this set:


Piano Concerto, Op.13
Track 1
1. Toccata
[12:01]
Track 2
2. Waltz
[5:06]
Track 3
3. Impromptu
[8:07]
Track 4
4. March
[8:51]
Sviatoslav Richter, English Chamber Orchestra, Benjamin Britten

Violin Concerto, Op.15
Track 5
1. Moderato con moto
[9:18]
Track 6
2. Vivace
[9:19]
Track 7
3. Passacaglia; Andante lento
[13:36]
Mark Lubotsky, English Chamber Orchestra, Benjamin Britten


Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op.68
Track 1
Allegro maestoso
[12:31]
Track 2
Presto inquieto
[3:39]
Track 3
Adagio
[10:33]
Track 4
Passacaglia
[7:25]
Mstislav Rostropovich, English Chamber Orchestra, Benjamin Britten

Sinfonia da Requiem, Op.20
Track 5
Lacrymosa
[8:46]
Track 6
Dies Irae
[5:04]
Track 7
Requiem aeternam
[6:38]
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Benjamin Britten

Track 8
Cantata Misericordium, Op.69
[19:48]
Sir Peter Pears, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten

Track 1
Prelude and Fugue for 18-part string orchestra, Op.29
[9:12]
Simple Symphony, Op.4
Track 2
1. Boisterous Bourrée
[3:24]
Track 3
2. Playful Pizzicato
[3:05]
Track 4
3. Sentimental Sarabande
[7:52]
Track 5
4. Frolicsome Finale
[2:58]
Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10
Track 6
1. Introduction & Theme
[1:57]
Track 7
2. Adagio
[2:23]
Track 8
3. March
[1:06]
Track 9
4. Romance
[1:37]
Track 10
5. Aria Italiana
[1:19]
Track 11
6. Bourrée Classique
[1:17]
Track 12
7. Wiener Waltzer
[2:41]
Track 13
8. Moto Perpetuo
[1:09]
Track 14
9. Funeral March
[3:57]
Track 15
10. Chant
[1:42]
Track 16
11. Fugue & Finale
[7:30]
English Chamber Orchestra, Benjamin Britten

Track 17
The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op.34
[16:31]
London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten


The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57
Act 1
Track 1
Prelude
[2:21]
Track 2
The Fool and the Dwarf
[1:21]
Track 3
The Emperor - March
[1:30]
Track 4
Gavotte
[2:36]
Track 5
The Four Kings
[1:21]
Track 6
The King of the North
[1:18]
Track 7
The King of the East
[2:31]
Track 8
The King of the West
[1:07]
Track 9
The King of the South
[1:43]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Benjamin Britten

Track 10
Belle Epine
[2:27]
Benjamin Britten, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Track 11
Belle Rose
[6:10]
Track 12
The Kings and Belle Rose
[1:26]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Benjamin Britten

Track 13
Triumph of Belle Epine
[1:53]
Track 14
Rage of the Kings
[1:41]
Benjamin Britten, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Track 15
The Four Frogs
[2:58]
Act 2 Scene 1
Track 16
Air
[5:36]
Track 17
Water
[7:14]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Benjamin Britten

Track 18
Fire
[5:59]
Act 2 Scene 2
Track 19
Belle Rose in Pagoda-Land
[2:06]
Benjamin Britten, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Track 20
The Pagodas
[3:03]
Track 21
The Salamander
[3:04]
Track 22
The Prince and Belle Rose
[5:54]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Benjamin Britten

The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57
Act 3 Scene 1
Track 1
Belle Epine as Empress
[2:47]
Track 2
The Old Emperor
[2:51]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Benjamin Britten

Track 3
Belle Rose and the Salamander
[1:34]
Benjamin Britten, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Track 4
Transition
[3:08]
Act 3 Scene 2
Track 5
The Pagoda Ballet
[1:37]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Benjamin Britten

Track 6
Pas de Six
[2:03]
Benjamin Britten, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Track 7
Variation 1
[3:43]
Track 8
Variation 2
[1:07]
Track 9
Variation 3
[1:09]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Benjamin Britten

Track 10
Pas de Trois
[1:25]
Benjamin Britten, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Track 11
Pas de Deux
[4:06]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Benjamin Britten

Track 12
Variation 4
[1:11]
Benjamin Britten, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Track 13
Variation 5
[2:16]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Benjamin Britten

Track 14
Finale
[6:11]
Benjamin Britten, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Diversions for piano (left hand) & orchestra, Op.21
Track 15
Theme
[1:06]
Track 16
Variation I - Recitative
[1:28]
Track 17
Variation II - Romance
[1:30]
Track 18
Variation III - March
[1:19]
Track 19
Variation IV - Arabesque
[1:37]
Track 20
Variation V - Chant
[1:47]
Track 21
Variation VI - Nocturne
[2:07]
Track 22
Variation VII - Badinerie
[1:26]
Track 23
Variation VIII - Burlesque
[1:53]
Track 24
Variation IXa -Toccata I
[0:48]
Track 25
Variation IXb - Toccata II
[2:01]
Track 26
Variation X - Adagio
[4:18]
Track 27
Variation XI - Tarantella
[2:44]
Julius Katchen, London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten

Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, Op.22
Track 28
Sonetto XVI
[1:59]
Track 29
Sonetto XXXI
[1:22]
Track 30
Sonetto XXX
[3:16]
Track 31
Sonetto LV
[1:48]
Track 32
Sonetto XXXVIII
[1:54]
Track 33
Sonetto XXXII
[1:20]
Track 34
Sonetto XXIV
[4:50]
Sir Peter Pears, Benjamin Britten


The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op.35
Track 1
1. O, my blacke Soule!
[3:19]
Track 2
2. Better my heart
[1:19]
Track 3
3. O might those sighes and teares
[3:00]
Track 4
4. Oh, to vex me
[1:07]
Track 5
5. What if this present
[2:48]
Track 6
6. Since she whom I loved
[3:26]
Track 7
7. At the round earth's imagined corners
[2:34]
Track 8
8. Thou hast made me
[1:31]
Track 9
9. Death, be not proud
[3:56]
Sir Peter Pears, Benjamin Britten

Songs & Proverbs of William Blake, Op.74
Track 10
The Pride of the Peacock...London
[3:07]
Track 11
Prisons are built...The Chimney Sweeper
[2:54]
Track 12
The Bird anest...A Poison Tree
[4:28]
Track 13
Think in the morning...The Tyger
[2:34]
Track 14
The Tygers of wrath...The Fly
[2:49]
Track 15
The hours of folly...Ah, Sun Flower
[4:16]
Track 16
To see a world...Every night and every morn
[3:26]
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Benjamin Britten

Winter Words, Op.52
Track 17
At day-close in November
[1:37]
Track 18
Midnight on the Great Western
[4:26]
Track 19
Wagtail and baby
[1:56]
Track 20
The little old table
[1:21]
Track 21
The choirmaster's burial
[3:43]
Track 22
Proud songsters
[1:07]
Track 23
At the railway station, Upway
[2:39]
Track 24
Before life and after
[3:18]
Sir Peter Pears, Benjamin Britten

Tit for tat
Track 25
1. A song of enchantment
[2:25]
Track 26
2. Autumn
[1:13]
Track 27
3. Silver
[1:43]
Track 28
4. Vigil
[1:44]
Track 29
5. Tit for tat
[1:32]
John Shirley-Quirk, Benjamin Britten... Read more ›

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Britten, July 27, 2007

By 

Peter Sheppard (Shell Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Britten Conducts Britten (Audio CD)

Nobody conducts his works with greater energy, insight or sensitivity than the composer. The recorded sound is magnificent, up to date in every way. To anyone who loves the music of Benjamin Britten, these recordings are mandatory!