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Britten, Benjamin Purchase Now
On Monday we learn about Britten's childhood nicknames, compositions, and the deep bond between him and his teacher, Frank Bridge.
Britten: Simple Symphony, IV
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
DG 423624
2:51
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Bridge: Moonlight fr. The Sea
Royal Liverpool Phil/Groves
EMI 66855
5:18
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Britten: Sinfonietta, I & III
Hallé Orchestra/Nagano
Erato 25502
8:15
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Britten: A Boy Was Born (excerpts)
Finzi Singers, Lichfield Cathedral Choir/Spicer
Chan 9701
8:58
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Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge (excerpts)
English Chamber Orchestra/Britten
Lon 417509
7:00
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Britten: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 13, I
English Chamber Orch/Britten; Richter, p.
Lon 417308
12:04
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On Tuesday, Britten meets the magnetic W.H Auden and he embarks on an adventure to America.
Britten: Violin Concerto, Op. 15, I
LSO/Rostropovich; Vengerov, v.
EMI 57510
10:04
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Britten: Les Illuminations, Op. 18 (excerpts)
English Chamber Orch/Britten; Pears, ten.
Lon 417153
7:27
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Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20, I
London Phil/Slatkin
RCA 61226
7:57
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Britten: Paul Bunyan (excerpts)
Royal Opera House Covent Garden/Hickox
Chan 9781
4:28
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Britten: Quartet for Strings No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25, I
Endellion String Quartet
EMI 47695
8:39
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Britten: Pastoral & Nocturne fr. Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31
Boyd Neel String Orchestra/Britten; Pears, ten.; Brain, hn.
Lon 425996
7:06
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On Wednesday, the sky darkens and the tide rises with Britten's Peter Grimes and we meet another, equally important Peter, Peter Pears.
Britten: Hymn fr. Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31
LSO/Britten; Tuckwell, hn.
Lon 417153
2:01
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Britten: Peter Grimes, Op. 33 (excerpts)
Royal Opera House Covent Garden/Haitink; Johnson, ten.; Allen, bar.; Lott, s.
EMI 54832
7:16, 5:17, 1:31, 5:27, :36, 1:16, 2:34
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Britten: Four Sea Interludes fr. Peter Grimes- Moonlight & Sunday Morning
London Phil/Slatkin
RCA 61226
8:21
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Britten: Quartet for Strings No. 2 in C Major, Op. 36, I
Endellion String Quartet
EMI 47696
7:51
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Britten: Rossini Suite, II & IV
Scottish Chamber Orch/Bedford; Bedford, p.
EMI 49480
4:10
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On Thursday, we explore Britten's War Requiem and one of his greatest causes: pacifism.
Britten: Spring Symphony, Op. 44, finale
Orchestra & Chorus of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden/Britten; Pears, ten.; Proctor, contralto; Vyvyan, s.
Lon 425153
7:26
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Britten: Pan from Metamorphoses after Ovid for oboe solo, Op. 49
Carter, ob.
EMI 55398
2:20
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Britten: Suite from Gloriana, Op. 53a, I & II
Bournemouth Symphony/Segal
EMI 69422
8:21
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Britten: The Prince of the Pagodas (excerpts)
London Sinfonietta/Knussen
Virgin 91103
6:50
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Britten: Nocturne for Tenor, 7 Obbligato Instruments & Strings (excerpts)
English Chamber Orch/Britten; Pears, ten.
EMI 417153
5:35
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Britten: Requiem Aeternam fr. War Requiem, Op. 66
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Chorus/Rattle; Tear, ten.; Allen, bar.; Söderström, s.
EMI 47034
9:51
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Britten: Suite for Solo Cello, Op. 72, II
Rostropovich, vc.
EMI 72016
2:20
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Our Friday, two slain soldiers meet in the War Requiem's "Libera Me". Then we sample some folk songs and end on a bright note: Britten's how-to-guide for young classical music listeners.
Britten: War Requiem, Op. 66 (excerpts)
LSO/Britten; Preston, org.; Vishnev-skaya, s.; Fischer-Dieskau, bar.; Pears, ten.
Lon 414383
9:42, 21:32
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Britten: Folksongs, Vol. 3, No. 6: “Waly, Waly”
Britten Sinfonia/Harding; Bostridge, ten.
EMI 56871
1:23
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Britten: Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34
Royal Phil/Previn
Telarc 80126
17:08
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