Britten: Serenade Op31; Illuminations Op18

Britten: Serenade Op31; Illuminations Op18

On this CD:

1. Serenade, for tenor, horn, & strings, Op. 31
Composed by Benjamin Britten
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Denis Blyth, Osian Ellis, English Chamber Orchestra, Roger Lord, Alexander Murrey, Peter Pears, Gervase de Peyer, William Waterhouse

2. Les illuminations, song cycle for high voice & strings, Op. 18
Composed by Benjamin Britten
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Denis Blyth, Osian Ellis, English Chamber Orchestra, Roger Lord, Alexander Murrey, Peter Pears, Gervase de Peyer, William Waterhouse

3. Nocturne, for tenor, 7 instruments & strings, Op. 60
Composed by Benjamin Britten
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Denis Blyth, Osian Ellis, English Chamber Orchestra, Roger Lord, Alexander Murrey, Peter Pears, Gervase de Peyer, William Waterhouse

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The Serenade and the Nocturne were both composed for Britten's lover, Peter Pears, although "Les Illuminations" was originally written for female voice. Since its premiere, however, it too has become a tenor standard, particularly since it rounds out CDs like this one, which feature the other song cycles as well. Pears was the archetypal English tenor. He had a thin, very agile voice, capable of a surprising volume of tone when necessary. He knew that he wasn't cut out for Italian opera, and when you're sleeping with one of the century's greatest composers, who cares? All of the music written for him was tailored to his special abilities, and he always made the most of the many opportunities that Britten offered to sound like the greatest singer in the world. --David Hurwitz

Amazon.com
Although Peter Pears and Benjamin Britten made an earlier recording of the Serenade with its original horn player, Dennis Brain, this one is sonically superior and, most important, musically more mature. In a word, it's absolutely radiant. The Serenade is among the greatest masterpieces in all of music. It stands as a monument to Britten's genius--there is no other piece anything like it--as well as to the creative inspiration provided by his relationship with Pears, and to Britten's... read more

Britten: Serenade Op31; Illuminations Op18

Britten: Serenade Op31; Illuminations Op18, Music, William Waterhouse, Gervase de Peyer, Benjamin Britten, Roger Lord, English Chamber Orchestra, Alexander Murray [flute], Osian Ellis, London Symphony Orchestra, Peter Pears, Classical, Classical Music, Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble, Song Cycle for Solo Voice and Orchestra, Vocal

Britten: Serenade Op31; Illuminations Op18

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