Britten the Performer: Complete Decca Recordings | Decca 4785672

Britten the Performer: Complete Decca Recordings

Label: Decca

Cat No: 4785672

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 27

Release Date: 16th September 2013

Contents

Works

Bach, Johann Sebastian

Brandenburg Concertos nos 1-6, BWV1046-51 (complete)
Cantata BWV102 'Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben'
Cantata BWV151 'Susser Trost, mein Jesus kommt'
St John Passion, BWV245

Berkeley, Lennox

How Love came in

Bridge, Frank

'Tis but a week, H146
Cello Sonata in D minor, H125
Golden hair, H165
Go not, happy day, H34
Journey's End, H167
Love went a-riding, H114
Phantasy in F sharp minor for piano quartet, H94
Sir Roger de Coverley (A Christmas Dance)
So perverse, H61
When you are old, H142

Britten, Benjamin

Gloriana, op.53
» Fanfare

Butterworth, George

A Shropshire Lad: Six Songs
» VI Is my team ploughing?

Byrd, William

Sellinger's Round, MB84

Debussy, Claude

Cello Sonata in D minor, L135
En blanc et noir

Delius, Frederick

Aquarelles (2)
Summer Night on the River

Elgar, Edward

Introduction and Allegro for strings, op.47
The Dream of Gerontius, op.38

Handel, George Frideric

Ode for St Cecilia's Day, HWV76

Haydn, Franz Joseph

Cello Concerto in C major, Hob.VIIb:1
Symphony no.45 in F sharp minor, Hob.I:45 'Farewell'
Symphony no.55 in E flat major, Hob.I:55 'Schoolmaster'

Holst, Gustav

Songs (12), op.48 'Humbert Wolfe Songs'

Ireland, John

Friendship in Misfortune
I Have Twelve Oxen
Love and friendship
The Land of Lost Content
The Trellis
The one hope

Janacek, Leos

Pohadka (Fairy-tale), JWVII/5

Moeran, Ernest John

In Youth is Pleasure

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Cosi fan tutte, K588
» Overture
Masonic Funeral Music in C minor, K477
Per pieta, non ricercate, K420
Piano Concerto no.12 in A major, K414
Piano Concerto no.20 in D minor, K466
Piano Concerto no.27 in B flat major, K595
Serenade no.6 in D, K239 'Serenata Notturna'
Si mostra la sorte, K209
Sonata for 2 pianos in D major, K448
Sonata for piano duet in C major, K521
Symphony no.25 in G minor, K183
Symphony no.29 in A major, K201
Symphony no.38 in D major, K504 'Prague'
Symphony no.39 in E flat major, K543
Symphony no.40 in G minor, K550
Symphony no.41 in C major, K551 'Jupiter'

Oldham, Arthur William

Chinese Lyrics (3)

Purcell, Henry

Celebrate this Festival, Z321
The Fairy Queen, Z629 (ed. Britten, Imogen Holst and P Pears)

Schubert, Franz

An die Laute, D905
Dass sie hier gewesen!, D775
Der Einsame, D800
Der Musensohn, op.92 no.1 D764
Der zurnenden Diana, D707
Die schone Mullerin, D795
Divertissement sur des motifs originaux francais, op.84 no.2, D823
Du bist die Ruh', D776, op.59 no.3
Du liebst mich nicht, D756
Fantasia in F minor for piano duet, op.103 D940
Ganymed, D544 op.19 no.3
Geheimes, op.14 no.2 D719
Gesange (3) des Harfners, D478-480
» no.1 Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergibt, D478
Grand Duo Sonata in C major for Piano 4 hands, op.140 D812
Harfenspieler III, op.12 no.3, D480
Lachen und Weinen, D777
Schwanengesang, D957
» Die Stadt
» Die Taubenpost
Sonata in A minor, D821 'Arpeggione'
Sprache der Liebe, D410
Symphony no.8 in B minor, D759 'Unfinished'
Variations in A flat major on an original theme, D813
Winterreise, op.89, D911

Schumann, Robert

Dichterliebe, op.48
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO3
Stucke (5) im Volkston, op.102

Shostakovich, Dmitri

Cello Sonata in D minor, op.40
Romances (7) on Poems of Alexander Blok, op.127

Tippett, Michael

Songs (3) for Ariel

Vaughan Williams, Ralph

On Wenlock Edge

Warlock, Peter

Yarmouth Fair

Artists

Benjamin Britten (piano)
Heather Harper (soprano)
Peter Pears (tenor)
Alfreda Hodgson (mezzo-soprano)
Robert Tear (tenor)
John Shirley-Quirk (baritone)
Gwynne Howell (bass)
Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano)
Helen Watts (contralto)
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)
Jennifer Vyvyan (soprano)
Mary Wells (soprano)
Norma Burrowes (soprano)
Alfreda Hodgson (mezzo-soprano)
James Bowman (countertenor)
Charles Brett (countertenor)
Ian Partridge (tenor)
Owen Brannigan (bass)
Sviatoslav Richter (piano)
Clifford Curzon (piano)
Elizabeth Harwood (soprano)
Felicity Palmer (soprano)
Jenny Hill (soprano)
Pauline Stevens (soprano)
Meriel Dickinson (contralto)
Margaret Cable (contralto)
John Elwes (tenor)
Neil Mackie (tenor)
John Noble (baritone)
Yvonne Minton (mezzo-soprano)
Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano)
Emanuel Hurwitz (violin)
Norbert Brainin (violin)
Peter Schidlof (viola)
Martin Lovett (cello)
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello)
Zorian String Quartet
Wandsworth School Boys’ Choir
Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Ambrosian Singers
Aldeburgh Festival Singers
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
London Symphony Chorus
Chorus of East Anglian Choirs
Aldeburgh Festival Orchestra
English Chamber Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra

Conductor

Benjamin Britten

Works

Bach, Johann Sebastian

Brandenburg Concertos nos 1-6, BWV1046-51 (complete)
Cantata BWV102 'Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben'
Cantata BWV151 'Susser Trost, mein Jesus kommt'
St John Passion, BWV245

Berkeley, Lennox

How Love came in

Bridge, Frank

'Tis but a week, H146
Cello Sonata in D minor, H125
Golden hair, H165
Go not, happy day, H34
Journey's End, H167
Love went a-riding, H114
Phantasy in F sharp minor for piano quartet, H94
Sir Roger de Coverley (A Christmas Dance)
So perverse, H61
When you are old, H142

Britten, Benjamin

Gloriana, op.53
» Fanfare

Butterworth, George

A Shropshire Lad: Six Songs
» VI Is my team ploughing?

Byrd, William

Sellinger's Round, MB84

Debussy, Claude

Cello Sonata in D minor, L135
En blanc et noir

Delius, Frederick

Aquarelles (2)
Summer Night on the River

Elgar, Edward

Introduction and Allegro for strings, op.47
The Dream of Gerontius, op.38

Handel, George Frideric

Ode for St Cecilia's Day, HWV76

Haydn, Franz Joseph

Cello Concerto in C major, Hob.VIIb:1
Symphony no.45 in F sharp minor, Hob.I:45 'Farewell'
Symphony no.55 in E flat major, Hob.I:55 'Schoolmaster'

Holst, Gustav

Songs (12), op.48 'Humbert Wolfe Songs'

Ireland, John

Friendship in Misfortune
I Have Twelve Oxen
Love and friendship
The Land of Lost Content
The Trellis
The one hope

Janacek, Leos

Pohadka (Fairy-tale), JWVII/5

Moeran, Ernest John

In Youth is Pleasure

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Cosi fan tutte, K588
» Overture
Masonic Funeral Music in C minor, K477
Per pieta, non ricercate, K420
Piano Concerto no.12 in A major, K414
Piano Concerto no.20 in D minor, K466
Piano Concerto no.27 in B flat major, K595
Serenade no.6 in D, K239 'Serenata Notturna'
Si mostra la sorte, K209
Sonata for 2 pianos in D major, K448
Sonata for piano duet in C major, K521
Symphony no.25 in G minor, K183
Symphony no.29 in A major, K201
Symphony no.38 in D major, K504 'Prague'
Symphony no.39 in E flat major, K543
Symphony no.40 in G minor, K550
Symphony no.41 in C major, K551 'Jupiter'

Oldham, Arthur William

Chinese Lyrics (3)

Purcell, Henry

Celebrate this Festival, Z321
The Fairy Queen, Z629 (ed. Britten, Imogen Holst and P Pears)

Schubert, Franz

An die Laute, D905
Dass sie hier gewesen!, D775
Der Einsame, D800
Der Musensohn, op.92 no.1 D764
Der zurnenden Diana, D707
Die schone Mullerin, D795
Divertissement sur des motifs originaux francais, op.84 no.2, D823
Du bist die Ruh', D776, op.59 no.3
Du liebst mich nicht, D756
Fantasia in F minor for piano duet, op.103 D940
Ganymed, D544 op.19 no.3
Geheimes, op.14 no.2 D719
Gesange (3) des Harfners, D478-480
» no.1 Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergibt, D478
Grand Duo Sonata in C major for Piano 4 hands, op.140 D812
Harfenspieler III, op.12 no.3, D480
Lachen und Weinen, D777
Schwanengesang, D957
» Die Stadt
» Die Taubenpost
Sonata in A minor, D821 'Arpeggione'
Sprache der Liebe, D410
Symphony no.8 in B minor, D759 'Unfinished'
Variations in A flat major on an original theme, D813
Winterreise, op.89, D911

Schumann, Robert

Dichterliebe, op.48
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO3
Stucke (5) im Volkston, op.102

Shostakovich, Dmitri

Cello Sonata in D minor, op.40
Romances (7) on Poems of Alexander Blok, op.127

Tippett, Michael

Songs (3) for Ariel

Vaughan Williams, Ralph

On Wenlock Edge

Warlock, Peter

Yarmouth Fair

Artists

Benjamin Britten (piano)
Heather Harper (soprano)
Peter Pears (tenor)
Alfreda Hodgson (mezzo-soprano)
Robert Tear (tenor)
John Shirley-Quirk (baritone)
Gwynne Howell (bass)
Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano)
Helen Watts (contralto)
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)
Jennifer Vyvyan (soprano)
Mary Wells (soprano)
Norma Burrowes (soprano)
Alfreda Hodgson (mezzo-soprano)
James Bowman (countertenor)
Charles Brett (countertenor)
Ian Partridge (tenor)
Owen Brannigan (bass)
Sviatoslav Richter (piano)
Clifford Curzon (piano)
Elizabeth Harwood (soprano)
Felicity Palmer (soprano)
Jenny Hill (soprano)
Pauline Stevens (soprano)
Meriel Dickinson (contralto)
Margaret Cable (contralto)
John Elwes (tenor)
Neil Mackie (tenor)
John Noble (baritone)
Yvonne Minton (mezzo-soprano)
Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano)
Emanuel Hurwitz (violin)
Norbert Brainin (violin)
Peter Schidlof (viola)
Martin Lovett (cello)
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello)
Zorian String Quartet
Wandsworth School Boys’ Choir
Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Ambrosian Singers
Aldeburgh Festival Singers
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
London Symphony Chorus
Chorus of East Anglian Choirs
Aldeburgh Festival Orchestra
English Chamber Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra

Conductor

Benjamin Britten

About

This 27-CD set brings together for the first time Benjamin Britten's complete Decca recordings as pianist and conductor, in which he performs music by other composers - an astonishing variety of music that ranges from large-scale choral works by Bach and Purcell to Schumann and Elgar, as well as orchestral works by Mozart, Haydn and Schubert.

Solo vocal repertory is generously represented with important works by Schubert and Schumann and early twentieth-century English song. Chamber music features Britten the pianist in partnership with two of Britten's closest collaborators: Mstislav Rostropovich and Sviatoslav Richter.

During the research and preparation for this set, a major discovery was made. The existence of a few unpublished Schubert songs was already known and a few works which had never appeared on CD already ensured their inclusion at the planning stage. However the discovery of an unpublished tape containing almost 50 minutes of Mozart (including Symphony No.40) with the London Symphony Orchestra, recorded in Kingsway Hall in December 1963, was a genuine once in a lifetime discovery!

Included in the booklet are:
- Article by Britten scholar Dr Philip Reed, who assesses Britten’s contribution as a performer
- Article on Pears and Britten performing Winterreise, by one of today’s great accompanists and writers on music, Graham Johnson

Contents:
CDs 1-2
Bach: St John Passion, BWV245
Heather Harper (soprano), Alfreda Hodgson (mezzo-soprano), Peter Pears (tenor), Robert Tear (tenor), John Shirley-Quirk (baritone), Gwynne Howell (bass), Wandsworth School Boys' Choir, English Chamber Orchestra

CD 3
Bach: Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kommt (Cantata BWV 151)
Bach: Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben (Cantata BWV 102)
Heather Harper (soprano), Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano), Helen Watts (contralto), Peter Pears (tenor), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), Wandsworth School Boys' Choir, Aldeburgh Festival Singers, English Chamber Orchestra

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.1 in F, BWV 1046
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.2 in F, BWV 1047
English Chamber Orchestra

CD 4
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G, BWV 1048
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 in G, BWV 1049
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.5 in G, BWV 1050
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.6 in Bb, BWV 1051
English Chamber Orchestra

CDs 5-6
Purcell: The Fairy Queen (ed.Britten/Holst/Pears)
Jennifer Vyvyan (soprano), Mary Wells (soprano), Norma Burrowes (soprano), Alfreda Hodgson (mezzo-soprano), James Bowman (countertenor), Charles Brett (countertenor), Peter Pears (tenor), Ian Partridge (tenor), John Shirley-Quirke (baritone), Owen Brannigan (Bass), Ambrosian Opera Chorus, English Chamber Orchestra

Purcell: Celebrate This Festival, Z.321 - Birthday Ode for Queen Mary
Heather Harper (soprano), Josephine Veasey (mezzo-soprano), James Bowman (countertenor), Peter Pears (tenor), John Shirley-Quirk (baritone), Ambrosian Singers, English Chamber Orchestra

CD 7
Haydn: Symphony No.45 in F# minor, Hob.I/45 - "Farewell"
Haydn: Symphony No.55 in Eb, Hob.I/55 - "The Schoolmaster"
Aldeburgh Festival Orchestra

Haydn: Cello Concerto in C, Hob.VIIb/1
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), English Chamber Orchestra

CD 8
Mozart: Symphony No.25 in G minor, K.183
Mozart: Serenata notturna in D, K.239
Mozart: Symphony No.29 in A, K.201
English Chamber Orchestra

CD 9
Mozart: Symphony No.40 in G minor, K.550
Mozart: Symphony No.38 in D, K.504 - "Prague"
English Chamber Orchestra

CD 10
Mozart: Symphony No.41 in C, K.551 - "Jupiter"
Mozart: Symphony No.39 in E flat, K.543
English Chamber Orchestra

Mozart: Si mostra la sorte, K.209 (Live in London)
Mozart: Per pietà, non ricercate, K.420 (Live in London)
Peter Pears (tenor), English Chamber Orchestra

CDs 11-12
Mozart: Piano Concerto No.12 in A, K.414
Benjamin Britten (piano), Aldeburgh Festival Orchestra

Mozart: Sonata for Piano Duet in C, K.521
Mozart: Sonata for Piano Duet in D, K.448
Sviatoslav Richter (piano), Benjamin Britten (piano)

Mozart: Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor, K.466
Mozart: Piano Concerto No.27 in Bb, K.595
Clifford Curzon (piano), English Chamber Orchestra

CD 13
Schubert: Symphony No.8 in B minor, D.759 - "Unfinished"
English Chamber Orchestra

Schubert: Sonata for Arpeggione & Piano in A minor, D.821
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Benjamin Britten (piano)

Schubert: Divertissement in E minor, D.823
Debussy: En Blanc et Noir
Sviatoslav Richter (piano), Benjamin Britten (piano)

CD 14
Schubert: Fantasy in F minor Op.103, D.940
Schubert: Variations on an original Theme in A flat, D.813
Schubert: Grand Duo Sonata in C major Op. posth.140, D.812
Sviatoslav Richter (piano), Benjamin Britten (piano)

CDs 15-17
Schubert: Winterreise, D.911
Schubert: Die Schöne Müllerin, D.957
Schumann: Dichterliebe, Op.48
Schubert: Selected Lieder
Peter Pears (tenor), Benjamin Britten (piano)

CDs 18-19
Schumann: Szenen aus Goethes 'Faust'
Elizabeth Harwood (soprano), Jennifer Vyvyan (soprano), Felicity Palmer (soprano), Jenny Hill (soprano), Pauline Stevens (soprano), Meriel Dickinson (contralto), Margaret Cable (contralto), Peter Peas (tenor) John Elwes (tenor), Neil Mackie (tenor), John Noble (baritone), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), John Shirley-Quirk (baritone), Aldeburgh Festival Singers, English Chamber Orchestra

Schumann: 5 Stücke im Volkston, Op.102
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Benjamin Britten (piano)

CDs 20-21
Delius: Summer Night on the River
Delius: Two Aquarelles
Bridge: Christmas Dance, "Sir Roger de Coverley"
Elgar: Introduction & Allegro for Strings, Op.47
English Chamber Orchestra

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius, Op.38
Yvonne Minton (mezzo-soprano), Peter Pears (tenor), John Shirley-Quirk (baritone), The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

CD 22
Shostakovich: Sonata for Cello & Piano, Op.40
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Benjamin Britten (piano)

Shostakovich: Seven Poems of Alexander Blok, Op.127
Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano), Emanuel Hurwitz (violin), Benjamin Britten (piano)

Janáček: Pohádka for Cello & Piano
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Benjamin Britten (piano)

CD 23
Vaughan Williams: On Wenlock Edge
Peter Pears (tenor), Zorian String Quartet

Bridge: Phantasie in F# minor for Piano Quartet
Norbert Brainin (violin), Peter Schidlof (viola), Martin Lovett (cello), Benjamin Britten (piano)

Bridge: Sonata for Cello & Piano
Debussy: Sonata for Cello & Piano in D minor, L.135
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Benjamin Britten (piano)

CDs 24-25
Songs by: Grainger, Purcell, Haydn, Holst, Bridge, Butterworth, Moeran, Warlock, Ireland, Berkeley, Oldham & Tippett
Gustav Holst
Humbert Wolfe Songs
1. Persephone
2. Things Lovelier
3. Now in these Fairylands
4. A Little Music
5. The Thought
6. The Floral Bandit
7. Envoi
8. The Dream City
9. Journey End
10. In the Street of Lost Time
11. Rhyme
12. Betelgeuse

Frank Bridge
13. 'Tis but a week
14. Goldenhair
15. When you are old
16. So perverse
17. Journey's end
18. Go not, happy day
19. Love went a-riding

George Butterworth
A Shropshire Lad
20. Is my team ploughing?

Ernest Moeran
21. In youth is pleasure

Peter Warlock
22. Yarmouth Fair

John Ireland
The Land of Lost Content
23. The Lent lily
24. Ladslove
25. Goal & Wicket
26. The vain desire
27. The encounter
28. Epilogue

29. The Trellis
30. Love and Friendship
31. Friendship in Misfortune
32. The One Hope
33. I have twelve oxen

Lennox Berkeley
34. How love came in

Arthur Oldham
Three Chinese Lyrics
35. Herd Boy's song
36. Fishing
37. Pedlar of spells

Michael Tippett
Songs for Ariel
38. Come unto these yellow sands
39. Full fathom five
40. Where the bee sucks

CD 26
Schubert - Selected Lieder:
- Ganymed, D. 544 (Op.19/3)
- Du liebst mich nicht, D.756
- Lachen und Weinen, D.777, Op.59/4
Kathleen Ferrier (contralto), Benjamin Britten (piano)

- Der Einsame, D.800
- Du Bist Die Ruh Opus 59 No.3 D776
- Der Musensohn, D.764 (Op.92/1)
- Der zürnenden Diana, D 707
- Sprache der Liebe, D. 410
- Gesange Des Harfners 1: Wer Sich Der Einsamkeit Ergibt D478
- Der Musensohn, D.764 (Op.92/1)
- Du Bist Die Ruh Opus 59 No.3 D776
- Geheimes, D719 (Goethe)
- Schwanengesang, D.957: Die Stadt
- Harfenspieler 3, D480: Wer nie sein Brot mit Tränen aß
- Dass sie hier gewesen D775
- Der zürnenden Diana, D707
- Ganymed, D. 544 (Op.19/3)
Peter Pears (tenor), Benjamin Britten (piano)

Byrd: Variations on 'Sellinger's Round'
Aldeburgh Festival Orchestra

Britten: Fanfare from 'Gloriana'
Anon.: God Save The Queen
Chorus of East Anglian Choirs, English Chamber Orchestra

CD 27
Handel: Ode for Saint Cecilia's Day, HWV76
Heather Harper (soprano), Peter Pears (tenor), Chorus of East Anglian Choirs, English Chamber Orchestra

Mozart: Overture to 'Così fan tutte', K.588
London Symphony Orchestra

Mozart: Si mostra la sorte, K.209
Mozart: Per pietà, non ricercate, K.420
Peter Pears (tenor), London Symphony Orchestra

Mozart: Maurerische Trauermusik in C minor, K.477/479a
Mozart: Symphony No.40 in G minor, K.550
London Symphony Orchestra

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