Composer(s): Britten, Benjamin
Conductor(s): Bedford, Steuart
Label: Naxos
Genre: Vocal
Period: 20th Century
Catalogue No: 8.557206
Barcode: 0747313220625
Release Date: 09/2004

BRITTEN: Illuminations (Les) / Our Hunting Fathers / Chansons Francaises

The medium of the orchestral song-cycle is one that much attracted Britten. His concept of an anthology of sometimes diverse texts, unified by a common literary or poetic theme was a favourite device to which he returned several times. The very early yet astonishingly mature Quatre Chansons Françaises and the still relatively unknown Our Hunting Fathers are coupled on this first volume with one of Britten’s great masterpieces, Les Illuminations which still startles in its vivid pictorial strokes and aching sensuality. Many composers had passed over Rimbaud’s poems considering them too surrealist for lyrical settings. Britten, however, relished the opportunity to respond to their visionary, violent and sexual images. The vocal line closely follows the diversity of the text, by turns starkly declamatory, lyrical and heated.

Tracklist

Britten, Benjamin
Verlaine, Paul-Marie - Lyricist
Hugo, Victor - Lyricist
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
1Nuits de Juin02:58
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
2Sagesse02:42
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
3L'Enfance03:55
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
4Chanson d'Automne02:33
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
Britten, Benjamin
Auden, Wystan Hugh - Lyricist
Ravenscroft, Thomas - Lyricist
Bryn-Julson, Phyllis (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
5Prologue02:32
Bryn-Julson, Phyllis (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
6Rats Away!04:24
Bryn-Julson, Phyllis (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
7Messalina07:28
Bryn-Julson, Phyllis (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
8Dance of Death (Hawking for the Partridge)06:04
Bryn-Julson, Phyllis (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
9Epilogue and Funeral March07:39
Bryn-Julson, Phyllis (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
Britten, Benjamin
Rimbaud, Arthur - Lyricist
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
10No. 1. Fanfare02:07
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
11No. 2. Villes02:32
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
12No. 3a. Phrase01:07
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
13No. 3b. Antique02:01
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
14No. 4. Royauté01:39
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
15No. 5. Marine00:59
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
16No. 6. Interlude02:27
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
17No. 7. Being Beauteous03:51
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
18No. 8. Parade02:44
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)
19No. 9. Départ02:54
Lott, Felicity (soprano)
English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra)
Bedford, Steuart (Conductor)

Total Playing Time: 01:02:36