Britten - The

I can only try to be helpful so that you can make up your own mind as to whether or not to purchase this 37 CD set.1. There is included a 50 page booklet that contains only a listing of the compositions and performers. There is nothing about the composer and no words to any of the singing, including the operas. EMI should be ashamed.2. The 37 discs are divided approximately as follows: 10 orchestral, 6 chamber, 11 church, songs, and choral, 10 opera.3. All performances are excellent, including the War Requiem and 5 operas.4. A dedicated Britten fan will have to obtain the booklet or a similar listing in order to determine how many of the selections would be duplicative of discs presently owned.5. The purchaser not too familiar with Britten will have to decide if he wants to buy so many discs that feature the voice, particularly since no words are printed.6. Based on the quality of the performances (EMI recordings) and the price (about $2.00 per disc) this is an amazing bargain and for that reason alone rates 5 stars.

For Britten lovers, this box set provides experience with his vast number of compositions, including songs, chamber music, opera, orchestral. Not a lot of Britten/Pears recordings, as they mostly were done by Decca. This shows how deeply brilliant his work is, in the hands of many other great interpreters.

I have loverd Britten ever since I was a child, which was in my pre-Pink Floyd days. I was thrilled to find this collection, even though I own recordings of almost everything Britten wrote (I must have at least 10 recordings of the War Requiem, my all-time favorite alongside PF's 'The Wall'). I'm a liturgical composer and admire Britten's attention to text scoring. Well done, Amazon!

This is a must if you are a Britten fan in this anniversary year. The selections are from some years ago but are mostly acclaimed Britten interpreters.

I suppose you'd have to be a tremendous BB fan to buy this set. Personally I would stick to individual pieces. The "War Requiem" is a tremendous masterpiece and deserves to be bought in the original recording with Britten recording ( as do most performances). "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" ( "Variations on a theme of Purcell") is also tremendously enjoyable, likewise the "Simple Symphony", a compilation of his childhood compositions. If you are into opera "Peter Grimes" is easily the best and, if not, the "Sea Interludes" are fine post-Debussy pieces. I'm sorry to say I find a lot of the rest of Britten's music rather minor, but you are welcome to disagree.

This magnificent set would be worth the money for the voice of Neil Mackie, the tenor from Aberdeen.AS far as I can vouch from checking with Michael Kennedy's biography of Britten (Master Musicians, Dent 1981), the box contains all Britten's significant works except:: a Charm of Lullabies Op.41; Songs from the Chinese Op.58; Cantata Academica Op.62; Sechs Holderlin fragmente Op.61; Blake Songs and Proverbs Op.74, Poet’s Echo Op.76, Who are these Children (Soutar) Op.84; Welcome Ode Op.95; and some incidental music for Films and TV; Church parables (Curlew River; Burning Fiery Furnace; Prodigal Son); Operas: Albert Herring; Billy Budd; Gloriana; Owen Wingrave, Death in Venice.But it includes several small items that are not listed in Kennedy.

This is a good price for so many CDs and it offers a fine introduction to the full range of Britten's work: opera, songs, orchestral, solo instruments. Everything. Some of the operas are not here, but several are. For me, I always feel that Britten's handling of voice is over-praised. I think he strains language horribly at some points. But I loved the orchestral and instrumental work here. Reminded how good he can be. A real cornucopia. Definitely worth checking out if you don't have much Britten in your collection yet.

Despite the very frugal presentation, this is an excellent set. There a number of major omissions that some might miss, such as the operas "Albert Herring" & "Death in Venice" but the inclusion of "Paul Bunyan" is a bonus. Doubtless there are many hours of enjoyment whenever one gets around to listening to the entire set. 37 hours or so of Britten at one sitting could be a challenge for some.

Loving this right out of the box. Wonderful recordings and astonishing value. If you have a liking for Britten then do not hesitate.

Disc 1Sinfonia da Requiem Op. 20Four Sea Interludes and Passacaglia from Peter Grimes Op. 33The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op. 34Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Libor Pesek. rec. 1989Disc 2Canadian Carnival Op. 19Wesley Warren, trumpet. City of Birmingham SO/Sir Simon Rattle.rec. 1982Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra Op. 21Peter Donohoe, piano. City of Birmingham SO/Sir Simon Rattle. rec.1990Scottish Ballad Op. 26Peter Donohoe, Philip Fowke, pianos. City of Birmingham SO/SirSimon Rattle. rec. 1982An American Overture Op. 27Occasional Overture Op. 38City of Birmingham SO/Sir Simon Rattle. rec. 1984Building of the House Op. 79CBSO Chorus/Simon Halsey. City of Birmingham SO/Sir Simon Rattlerec. 1990Disc 3Piano Concerto Op. 13Leif Ove Andsnes, piano. City of Birmingham SO/Paavo Järvi. rec.1997Violin Concerto Op. 15Ida Haendel, violin. Bournemouth SO/Paavo Berglund. rec. 1977Young Apollo Op. 16Peter Donohoe, piano. Felix Kok, Jeremy Ballard, violins. Peter Cole,viola. Michal Kaznowski, cello.City of Birmingham SO/Sir Simon Rattle. rec. 1982Disc 4Simple Symphony Op. 4 (rec. 1990)Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge Op. 10 (rec. 1988)Prelude and Fugue Op. 29Lachrymae Op. 48aLars Anders Tomter, viola. Norwegian Chamber Orchestra/Iona Brown.rec. 1991Disc 5Symphonic Suite from `Gloriana' Op. 53aRoyal Liverpool PO/Takuo Yuasa. rec. 1994Cello Symphony Op. 68Steven Isserlis, cello. City of London Sinfonia/Nicholas Ward,Richard Hickox. rec. 1987Men of Goodwill (Variations on a Christmas Carol for orchestra)Minnesota Orchestra/Sir Neville Marriner. rec. 1983Disc 6Sinfonietta Op. 1Pauline Lowbury, Julian Tear, violins. Britten Sinfonia/DanielHarding. rec. 1997Russian FuneralCity of Birmingham SO/Sir Simon Rattle. rec. 1994Suite on English Folk Tunes `A time there was...' Op. 90Peter Walden, cor anglais. City of Birmingham SO/Sir Simon Rattlerec. 1984Matinees Musicales Op. 24Soirees Musicales Op. 9English Chamber Orchestra/Sir Alexander Gibson. rec. 1982Rossini Suite original version of Soirees MusicalesBoys of the Choir of Paisley Abbey chorus/George McPheeScottish Chamber Orchestra/John Tunnell, Steuart Bedford. rec. 1998Disc 7The Prince of Pagodas Op. 57 Acts I and IILondon Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen. rec. 1989Disc 8The Prince of Pagodas Op. 57 Act IIILondon Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen. rec. 1989Disc 9Rhapsody for String QuartetElegy for Solo Viola - Garfield Jackson, violaString Quartet in D - Nicholas Logie, violaDisc 10Phantasy for Oboe and String Trio Op. 2Three Divertimenti for String QuartetString Quartet No. 1 in D Op. 25Disc 11String Quartet No. 2 in C Op. 36String Quartet No. 3 Op. 94Endellion String Quartet. rec. 1986Disc 12Cello Suite No. 1 in G Op. 72Cello Suite No. 2 in D Op. 80Cello Suite No. 3 Op. 87Truls Mørk, cello. rec. 1998 & 2000Disc 13The Music For Solo Piano:Holiday Diary Op. 5Three Character PiecesFrom Sonatina RomanticaFive Waltzes - Stephen Hough, pianoTwo Lullabies for Two PianosIntroduction & Rondo alla burlesca Op. 23 No. 1Stephen Hough, Ronan O'Hara, pianos. rec. 1990Disc 14Suite for Violin and Piano Op. 6Alexander Barantschik, violin. John Adey, piano. rec. 1994Cello Sonata in C Op. 65Moray Welsh, cello. John Lenehan, piano. rec. 1994Six Metamorphoses after Ovid for Solo Oboe Op. 49Roy Carter, oboe. rec. 1995Nocturnal after John Dowland Op. 70Julian Bream, guitar. rec. 1992Disc 15War Requiem, Op. 66Words from the Missa pro defunctis; poems by Wilfred OwenRequiem aeternamDies iraeOffertoriumSanctusAgnes DeiElisabeth Söderström (soprano), Robert Tear (tenor), Sir Thomas Allen (baritone)Boys of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford (directed by Francis Grier) CBSO Chorus (chorus master: Simon Halsey)City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle, Mark Blatchly (chamber organ)Disc 16War Requiem, Op. 66Libera MeElisabeth Soderstrom, soprano. Robert Tear, tenor. Sir Thomas Allen,baritone.Mark Blatchly, chamber organ. Boys of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford/Francis GrierCBSO Chorus/Simon Halsey. City of Birmingham SO/Sir Simon Rattle.rec. 1983Spring Symphony Op. 44 Parts I-IVSheila Armstrong, soprano. Dame Janet Baker, contralto. Robert Tear,tenor.St. Clement Danes School Boys' Choir/Keith Walters. London SymphonyChorus/Richard HickoxLSO/Andre Previn. rec. 1978Disc 17Hymn to St. Cecilia Op. 27A Ceremony of Carols Op. 28James Clark, Julian Godlee, trebles. Osian Ellis, harpMiss brevis in D Op. 63Julian Brown, Christopher Anderson, Anthony Sackville, Rory Phillips &James Clark, trebles. Ian Hare, organ.Festival Te Deum Op. 32Simon Channing, treble. James Lancelot, organRejoice in the Lamb Op. 30Simon Channing, treble. James Bowman, countertenor. Richard Morton,tenor. Marcus Creed, bass.James Lancelot, organ. David Corkhill, percussion.Te Deum in CRory Phillips, treble. James Lancelot, organJubilate DeoJames Lancelot, organ. Choir of King's College, Cambridge/Sir DavidWillcocks, Sir Philip Ledger. rec. 1971, 72 & 74Disc 18A Hymn to the VirginStephen Barton, Hugh Hudleston, treble. Warren Trevelyan-Jones, tenorFrancis Pott, bassWinchester Cathedral Choir/David Hill. rec. 1996Saint Nicolas Op. 42Robert Tear, tenor. Bruce Russell, treble. Andrew Davis & Ian Hare,piano duet.Cambridge Girl's Choir, Choir of King's College, Cambridge.Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/Sir Neville Marriner, Sir DavidWillcocks. rec. 1970.Hymn to St. Peter Op. 56aMark Emney, Peter Rowe, trebles. Timothy Farrell, organ. WandsworthSchool Choir/Russell Burgess. rec. 1968A Hymn of St. Columba - Regis regum rectissimi Op. 56aMark Emney, Peter Rowe, trebles. Christopher Hughes, Timothy Farrell,organ.Choir of King's College, Cambridge. Wandsworth School Choir/RussellBurgess. rec. 1968Sacred and Profane Op. 91Vasari Singers. Jeremy Backhouse. rec. 1992Disc 19The Little Sweep - A Children's Opera in 3 Scenes Op. 45 rec. 1977A Boy was Born Op. 3London Sinfonietta Chorus. Choristers of St. Paul's Cathedral/JohnScott, Terry EdwardsA Shepherd's Carol for unaccompanied chorus, words by W. H. AudenSarah Leonard, soprano. Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano. Peter Hall,tenor. Gordon Jones, baritone.London Sinfonietta Chorus/Terry Edwards. rec. 1988Disc 20Noye's Fludde Op. 59 rec. 1898AMDG words by Gerard Manley HopkinsLondon Sinfonietta Chorus/Terry Edwards. rec. 1987 & 1988The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady BarnardBaccholian Singers of London. Rogers Covey-Crump, Ian Partridge, IanThompson, Paul Elliott, tenorsIan Humphris, Stephen Varcoe, baritones. Michael George, BrianEtheridge, bass. rec. 1976Disc 21The Company of Heaven Parts I, II & IIIPeter Barkworth, Sheila Allen, narrators. Cathryn Pope, soprano. DanDressen, tenor. Christopher Herrick, organLondon Philharmonic Chorus/Richard Cooke. English Chamber Orchestra/Philip Brunelle rec. 1989Ballad of Heroes Op. 14Robert Tear, tenor. CBSO Chorus/Simon Halsey. City of Birmingham SO/Sir Simon RattlePraise We Great MenAlison Hargan, soprano. Mary King, contralto. Robert Tear, tenorWillard White, bass.CBSO Chorus/Simon Halsey. City of Birmingham SO/Sir Simon Rattlerec. 1990Disc 22Les Illuminations Op. 18Heather Harper, soprano. Northern Sinfonia Orchestra/Sir NevilleMarriner. rec. 1970Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings Op. 31Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal (Tennyson)Neil Mackie, tenor, Barry Tuckwell, horn. Scottish C.O./John Tunnell,Steuart Bedford. rec. 1988Nocturne Op. 60Robert Tear, tenor. English C.O./Jeffrey Tate. rec. 1987Disc 23Quatre Chansons FrancaisesJill Gomez, soprano. City of Birmingham SO/Sir Simon Rattle. rec.1982Our Hunting Fathers Op. 8Folksong ArrangementsElisabeth Soderstrom, soprano. Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera/Richard Armstrong. rec. 1982Phaedra Op. 93Felicity Palmer, mezzo-soprano. Jane Salmon, cello. Melvyn Tan,harpsichord. Endymion Ensemble/John WhitfieldFive French Folksong ArrangementsFelicity Palmer, mezzo-soprano. Endymion Ensemble/John Whitfield.rec. 1986Disc 24Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo Op. 22Peter Pears, tenor, Benjamin Britten, piano. rec. 1942Holy Sonnets of John Donne Op. 35Peter Pears, tenor, Benjamin Britten, piano. rec. 1947On This Island Op. 11Winter Words Op. 52Robert Tear, tenor. Sir Philip Ledger, piano. rec. 1973Disc 25The Five CanticlesFolksong ArrangementsIan Bostridge, tenor. David Daniels, counter-tenor. Christopher Maltman,baritoneTimothy Brown, horn. Aline Brewer, harp. Julius Drake, pianoDisc 26Two Songs by Thomas HardyBeware! Three Early SongsTwo Songs by W. H. AudenThree Rhymes by William SoutarNeil Mackie, tenor. Roger Vignoles, piano. rec. 1986Tit for Tat (5 settings of poems by Walter de la Mare)Jonathan Lemalu, bass baritone. Malcolm Martineau, piano. rec. 2005Two Ballads for Two Voices and PianoFelicity Lott, soprano. Ann Murray, mezzo-soprano. Graham Johnson,piano. rec. 1991Folksong ArrangementsRobert Tear, tenor. Sir Philip Ledger, piano. rec. 1974Sarah Brightman, soprano. Geoffrey Parsons, piano. rec. 1986Disc 27Realisations of Henry Purcell - Odes and ElegiesThe Queen's EpicediumPeter Pears, tenor. Benjamin Britten, piano. rec. 1947Orpheus BritannicusFelicity Lott, soprano. Ann Murray, mezzo-soprano. Graham Johnson,piano. rec. 1991.Neil Mackie, tenor. Roger Vignoles, piano. rec. 1986Suite of Songs for High Voice and OrchestraNeil Mackie, tenor. Scottish C.O./John Tunnell, Steuart Bedford. rec.1988Orchestrations of Schubert & SchumannNeil Mackie, tenor. Scottish C.O./John Tunnell, Steuart Bedford. rec.1988Disc 28Paul Bunyan - Operetta in 2 acts and prologue Op. 17 - ACT I rec. 1987Disc 29Paul Bunyan - ACT IISoloists, Chorus & Orchestra of the Plymouth Music Series / Philip BrunelleDisc 30 & Disc 31Peter Grimes rec. 1992Anthony Rolfe Johnson; Felicity Lott; Thomas Allen; Patricia Payne; Maria Bovino; Gillian Webster; Stuart Kale; Stafford Dean; Sarah Walker; Neil Jenkins; Simon Keenlyside; David Wilson-JohnsonChorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Bernard HaitinkDisc 32 + Disc 33The Turn of the Screw rec. 2002Ian Bostridge; Joan Rodgers; Julian Leang; Caroline Wise; Jane Henschel; Vivian TierneyMahler Chamber Orchestra/Daniel HardingDisc 34 & Disc 35A Midsummer Night's Dream rec. 1990James Bowman; Lillian Watson; Dexter Fletcher; John Graham-Hall; Henry Herford; Della Jones; Jill Gomez; Norman Bailey; Penelope WalkerTrinity Boys' Choir; City of London Sinfonia/Richard HickoxDisc 36 & Disc 37The Rape of Lucretia Op. 37 Opera in 2 acts rec. 1947Peter Pears; Joan Cross; Norman Lumsden; Denis Dowling; Frederick Sharp; Nancy Evans; Flora Nielsen; Margaret RitchieEnglish Opera Group Chamber Orchestra/Reginald GoodallScenes from Peter Grimes Op. 33. rec. 1948Peter Pears, tenor; Joan Cross, Tom Culbert, Herbert Dawson, BBC Theatre Chorus, Orchestra of the ROH Covent Garden/Reginald Goodall