Britten Essentials

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, Op. 83

1. Overture

Marshall McGuire

2:59

Britten: The Turn of the Screw, Op. 54

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, Op. 34

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

London Symphony Orchestra

16:33

Britten: Les Illuminations, Op. 18

Les Illuminations Op. 18: IV. Royauté

Martyn Hill/City of London Sinfonia/Richard Hickox

1:35

Britten: Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31

Nocturne

Sir Peter Pears

3:26

Britten: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 15

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

Daniel Hope

9:00

Britten: Our Hunting Fathers, Op. 8

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, Op. 4

Simple Symphony Op. 4: First movement: Boisterous Bourrée

Christopher Warren-Green/London Chamber Orchestra

2:27

Britten: War Requiem, Op. 66

2a. Dies irae

London Symphony Chorus

3:38

Britten: Albert Herring, Op. 39

"Tickling A Trout"

Joseph Ward

3:01

Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20

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

Sir Simon Rattle

8:38

Britten: Harp Suite in C major, Op. 83

2. Toccata

Marshall McGuire

1:28

Britten: The Prince of the Pagodas, Op. 57

The Pagoda Palace

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

1:36

Britten: Piano Concerto in D major, Op. 13

4. March

Sviatoslav Richter

8:50

Britten: String Quartet No.3 in G major, Op. 94

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, Op. 90

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

Sir Simon Rattle

2:32

Britten: Folk Songs Arrangements, Vol. 1

The Salley Gardens

André Schuen and Karla Haltenwanger

3:06

Britten: Gloriana, Op. 53a

La Volta

The Julian Bream Consort

1:21

Britten: Noye's Fludde, Op. 59

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, Op. 7

I Mun Be Married On Sunday

Choir of Downside School, Purley

1:13

Britten: Cello Symphony, Op. 68

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

Mstislav Rostropovich

9:56

Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50

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

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

3:32

Britten: Sinfonietta, Op. 1

I. Poco presto ed agitato

Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

4:01

Britten: Night Piece

Britten: Night Piece "Notturno"

Stephen Hough

5:23

Britten: Harp Suite in C major, Op. 83

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

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

25. Pavane

Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera

2:09

Britten: Harp Suite in C major, Op. 83

4. Fugue

Marshall McGuire

1:17

Britten: Cello Suite No.1, Op. 72

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

Mstislav Rostropovich

2:56

Britten: Nocturnal after J. Dowland, Op. 70

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

Julian Bream

4:50

Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88

"The Boy, Tadzio, Shall Inspire Me"

Sir Peter Pears

4:24

Britten: Nocturne, Op. 60

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

Aurora Orchestra

4:36

Britten: Harp Suite in C major, Op. 83

5. Hymn

Marshall McGuire

4:55

Total playing time

2:19:21

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