Britten: #101

About this playlist

Britten was a pioneer, and a composer with a very distinct voice. He defined what an opera could mean in the 20th century, stunned audiences with powerful music for the concert hall, and connected with music making in Britain in a special way – writing much music specially for children to perform and founding Aldeburgh festival.

Tracklist

Britten: Harp Suite in C major

1. Overture

Marshall McGuire

2:59

Britten: The Turn of the Screw

The Turn of the Screw Op. 54, Act One: Theme

Ian Bostridge/Joan Rodgers/Mahler Chamber Orchestra/Daniel Harding/Julian Leang/Caroline Wise/Jane Henschel/Vivian Tierney

1:04

Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra

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

London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten

16:31

Britten: Les Illuminations

Les Illuminations Op. 18: IV. Royauté

Martyn Hill/City of London Sinfonia/Richard Hickox

1:35

Britten: Serenade

Nocturne

New Symphony Orchestra, Eugène Goossens, Sir Peter Pears, Dennis Brain

3:24

Britten: Violin Concerto in D minor

Britten: Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 15: II. Vivace - Animando - Largamente - Cadenza

Daniel Hope

9:00

Britten: Our Hunting Fathers

Our Hunting Fathers Op. 8 (text devised by W. H. Auden): Prologue (W. H. Auden)

Ian Bostridge/Britten Sinfonia/Daniel Harding

2:32

Britten: Simple Symphony

Simple Symphony Op. 4: First movement: Boisterous Bourrée

Christopher Warren-Green/London Chamber Orchestra

2:27

Britten: War Requiem

2a. Dies irae

London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten, London Symphony Chorus, The Bach Choir

3:38

Britten: Albert Herring

"Tickling A Trout"

English Chamber Orchestra, Benjamin Britten, Joseph Ward, Sir Peter Pears, Catherine Wilson

3:02

Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem

Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20: I. Lacrymosa (Andante ben misurato)

Sir Simon Rattle

8:38

Britten: Harp Suite in C major

2. Toccata

Marshall McGuire

1:29

Britten: The Prince of the Pagodas

The Pagoda Palace

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Benjamin Britten

1:37

Britten: Piano Concerto in D major

4. March

Sviatoslav Richter, English Chamber Orchestra, Benjamin Britten

8:51

Britten: A Time there was suite on English folksongs

Britten: A Suite on English Folk Tunes, Op. 90, "A Time There Was": I. Cakes and Ale

Sir Simon Rattle

2:32

Britten

The Salley Gardens

André Schuen and Karla Haltenwanger

3:06

Britten: Gloriana: Courtly Dances

La Volta

The Julian Bream Consort

1:21

Britten: Noye's Fludde

Noye's Fludde, Op.59 The Chester Miricle Play set to music: Lord Jesus, think on me

Richard Pasco/Donald Maxwell/Linda Ormiston/Alexander Gallifant/Timothy Lamb/Nicholas Berry/Camellia Johnson/Polly Hewetson/Joanna Brown/Schoolchildren from Salisbury & Chester/Coull Quartet/Endymion Ensemble/Orchestra of Schoolchildren fro

3:04

Britten: Friday Afternoons

I Mun Be Married On Sunday

Viola Tunnard, Benjamin Britten, Choir of Downside School, Purley

1:10

Britten: Cello Symphony

Britten: Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 68: III. Adagio - Cadenza

Mstislav Rostropovich

9:56

Britten: Billy Budd

Billy Budd: Boy! - Yes sir! (Vere/Boy)

Daniel Harding/London Symphony Orchestra/Ian Bostridge/Hugo Shepherd/London Symphony Chorus

3:32

Britten: Sinfonietta

I. Poco presto ed agitato

Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

3:59

Britten: Night Piece

Night Piece (Notturno) (1963)

Stephen Hough

5:22

Britten: Harp Suite in C major

3. Nocturne

Marshall McGuire

3:29

Britten: The Company of Heaven

The Company of Heaven, Part Three: A thousand, thousand gleaming fires

Cathryn Pope/Dan Dressen/Peter Barkworth/Sheila Allen/Christopher Herrick/London Philharmonic Choir/English Chamber Orchestra/Philip Brunelle

4:14

Britten: Friday Afternoons

Rape of Lucretia, Act I, Scene I: My horse! My horse! - Interlude: Tarquinius does not wait

Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble/Oliver Knussen/Peter Coleman-Wright/Ian Bostridge

2:58

Britten: Gloriana

25. Pavane

Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, Sir Charles Mackerras

2:10

Britten: Harp Suite in C major

4. Fugue

Marshall McGuire

1:18

Britten: Cello Suite No.1

Britten: Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72: VI. Moto perpetuo e Canto quarto (Presto)

Mstislav Rostropovich

2:56

Britten: Nocturnal after J. Dowland

Britten: Nocturnal after John Dowland, Op. 70: VIII. Passacaglia (Misurato)

Julian Bream

4:50

Britten: Death in Venice

"The Boy, Tadzio, Shall Inspire Me"

Sir Peter Pears, English Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford

4:17

Britten: Nocturne

Britten: Nocturne, Op. 60: VI. "She sleeps on soft, last breaths"

Aurora Orchestra

4:36

Britten: Harp Suite in C major

5. Hymn

Marshall McGuire

5:02

Curated by

Guy Jones

Head of Curation

About this playlist

Britten was a pioneer, and a composer with a very distinct voice. He defined what an opera could mean in the 20th century, stunned audiences with powerful music for the concert hall, and connected with music making in Britain in a special way – writing much music specially for children to perform and founding Aldeburgh festival.

Curated by

Guy Jones

Head of Curation

Done