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: Suite for harp, Op.83

1. Overture

Marshall McGuire

2:59

Britten: 4 Sea Interludes

Britten: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Op. 33a: III. Moonlight

Andrew Davis

4:18

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: Nocturne

Nocturne

Sir Peter Pears, Dennis Brain, New Symphony Orchestra & Eugene Goossens

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, Op.66 / Dies Irae

"Dies irae"

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

3:38

Britten: Albert Herring, Op.39 / Act 1

"Tickling A Trout"

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

3:02

Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem

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

Sir Simon Rattle

8:38

Britten: Suite for harp, Op.83

2. Toccata

Marshall McGuire

1:29

Britten: The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 - Act 3 Scene 2

The Pagoda Palace

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

1:37

Britten: Piano Concerto, Op.13

4. March

Sviatoslav Richter, English Chamber Orchestra & Benjamin Britten

8:51

Britten: String Quartet No.3

Britten: String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94: IV. Burlesque (Fast, con fuoco)

Endellion String Quartet

2:21

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 & Karla Haltenwanger

3:06

Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez - Britten: The Courtly Dances from Gloriana - Vivaldi: Concerto for Lute in D Major, RV 93

La Volta

The Julian Bream Consort & Julian Bream

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

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

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

5:23

Britten: Nocturne

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: A Ceremony of Carols

A Ceremony of Carols, Op.28 (1995 - Remaster): 8. In freezing winter night

King's College Choir, Cambridge, Osian Ellis, Sir David Willcocks, James Clark & Julian Godlee

4:11

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, Op.53 / Act 2 Scene 3

25. Pavane

Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera & Sir Charles Mackerras

2:10

Britten: Suite for harp, Op.83

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, Op.88 / Act 1

"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: Suite for harp, Op.83

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