Britten Conducts Britten Vol.4 (7 CD box set, FLAC)

Performer: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, John Shirley-Quirk, Benjamin Britten, Sviatoslav Richter, Julius Katchen, et al.
Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus and Orchestra
Conductor: Benjamin Britten
Composer: Benjamin Britten
Audio CD
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Decca
Size: 2.37 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc 1:
01. Piano Concerto, Op.13 – 1. Toccata
02. Piano Concerto, Op.13 – 2. Waltz
03. Piano Concerto, Op.13 – 3. Impromptu
04. Piano Concerto, Op.13 – 4. March
05. Violin Concerto, Op.15 – 1. Moderato con moto
06. Violin Concerto, Op.15 – 2. Vivace Mark Lubotsky
07. Violin Concerto, Op.15 – 3. Passacaglia; Andante lento

Disc 2:
01. Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op.68 – Allegro maestoso
02. Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op.68 – Presto inquieto
03. Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op.68 – Adagio
04. Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op.68 – Passacaglia
05. Sinfonia da Requiem, Op.20 – Lacrymosa
06. Sinfonia da Requiem, Op.20 – Dies Irae
07. Sinfonia da Requiem, Op.20 – Requiem aeternam
08. Cantata Misericordium, Op.69

Disc 3:
01. Prelude and Fugue for 18-part string orchestra, Op.29
02. Simple Symphony, Op.4 – 1. Boisterous Bourrée
03. Simple Symphony, Op.4 – 2. Playful Pizzicato
04. Simple Symphony, Op.4 – 3. Sentimental Sarabande
05. Simple Symphony, Op.4 – 4. Frolicsome Finale
06. Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10 – 1. Introduction & Theme
07. Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10 – 2. Adagio
08. Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10 – 3. March
09. Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10 – 4. Romance
10. Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10 – 5. Aria Italiana
11. Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10 – 6. Bourrée Classique
12. Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10 – 7. Wiener Waltzer
13. Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10 – 8. Moto Perpetuo
14. Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10 – 9. Funeral March
15. Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10 – 10. Chant
16. Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10 – 11. Fugue & Finale
17. The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, op.34

Disc 4:
01. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – Prelude
02. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – The Fool and the Dwarf
03. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – The Emperor – March
04. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – Gavotte
05. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – The Four Kings
06. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – The King of the North
07. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – The King of the East
08. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – The King of the West
09. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – The King of the South
10. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – Belle Epine
11. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – Belle Rose
12. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – The Kings and Belle Rose
13. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – Triumph of Belle Epine
14. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – Rage of the Kings
15. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 1 – The Four Frogs
16. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 2 Scene 1 – Air
17. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 2 Scene 1 – Water
18. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 2 Scene 1 – Fire
19. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 2 Scene 2 – Belle Rose in Pagoda-Land
20. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 2 Scene 2 – The Pagodas
21. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 2 Scene 2 – The Salamander
22. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 2 Scene 2 – The Prince and Belle Rose

Disc 5:
01. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 1 – Belle Epine as Empress
02. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 1 – The Old Emperor
03. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 1 – Belle Rose and the Salamander
04. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 1 – Transition
05. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 2 – The Pagoda Ballet
06. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 2 – Pas de Six
07. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 2 – Variation 1
08. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 2 – Variation 2
09. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 2 – Variation 3
10. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 2 – Pas de Trois
11. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 2 – Pas de Deux
12. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 2 – Variation 4
13. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 2 – Variation 5
14. The Prince of the Pagodas, Op.57 – Act 3 Scene 2 – Finale
15. Diversions for piano (left hand) & orchestra, Op.21 – Theme
16. Diversions for piano (left hand) & orchestra, Op.21 – Variation I – Recitative
17. Diversions for piano (left hand) & orchestra, Op.21 – Variation II – Romance
18. Diversions for piano (left hand) & orchestra, Op.21 – Variation III – March
19. Diversions for piano (left hand) & orchestra, Op.21 – Variation IV – Arabesque
20. Diversions for piano (left hand) & orchestra, Op.21 – Variation V – Chant
21. Diversions for piano (left hand) & orchestra, Op.21 – Variation VI – Nocturne
22. Diversions for piano (left hand) & orchestra, Op.21 – Variation VII – Badinerie
23. Diversions For Piano (Left Hand) & Orchestra, Op.21 – Variation VIII – Burlesque
24. Diversions for piano (left hand) & orchestra, Op.21 – Variation IXa -Toccata I
25. Diversions for piano (left hand) & orchestra, Op.21 – Variation IXb – Toccata II
26. Diversions for piano (left hand) & orchestra, Op.21 – Variation X – Adagio
27. Diversions for piano (left hand) & orchestra, Op.21 – Variation XI – Tarantella
28. Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, Op.22 – Sonetto XVI
29. Seven Sonnets Of Michelangelo, Op.22 – Sonetto Xxxi
30. Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, Op.22 – Sonetto XXX
31. Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, Op.22 – Sonetto LV
32. Seven Sonnets Of Michelangelo, Op.22 – Sonetto Xxxviii
33. Seven Sonnets Of Michelangelo, Op.22 – Sonetto Xxxii
34. Seven Sonnets Of Michelangelo, Op.22 – Sonetto Xxiv

Disc 6:
01. The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op.35 – 1. O, my blacke Soule!
02. The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op.35 – 2. Better my heart
03. The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op.35 – 3. O might those sighes and teares
04. The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op.35 – 4. Oh, to vex me
05. The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op.35 – 5. What if this present
06. The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op.35 – 6. Since she whom I loved
07. The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op.35 – 7. At the round earth’s imagined corners
08. The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op.35 – 8. Thou hast made me
09. The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op.35 – 9. Death, be not proud
10. Songs & Proverbs of William Blake, Op.74 – The Pride of the Peacock…London
11. Songs & Proverbs of William Blake, Op.74 – Prisons are built…The Chimney Sweeper12. Songs & Proverbs of William Blake, Op.74 – The Bird anest…A Poison Tree
13. Songs & Proverbs of William Blake, Op.74 – Think in the morning…The Tyger
14. Songs & Proverbs of William Blake, Op.74 – The Tygers of wrath…The Fly
15. Songs & Proverbs of William Blake, Op.74 – The hours of folly…Ah, Sun Flower
16. Songs & Proverbs of William Blake, Op.74 – To see a world…Every night and every morning
17. Winter Words, Op.52 – At day-close in November
18. Winter Words, Op.52 – Midnight on the Great Western
19. Winter Words, Op.52 – Wagtail and baby
20. Winter Words, Op.52 – The little old table
21. Winter Words, Op.52 – The choirmaster’s burial
22. Winter Words, Op.52 – Proud songsters
23. Winter Words, Op.52 – At the railway station, Upway
24. Winter Words, Op.52 – Before life and after
25. Tit for tat – 1. A song of enchantment
26. Tit for tat – 2. Autumn
27. Tit for tat – 3. Silver
28. Tit for tat – 4. Vigil
29. Tit for tat – 5. Tit for tat

Disc 7:
01. Serenade for tenor, horn & strings, Op.31 – Prologue
02. Serenade for tenor, horn & strings, Op.31 – Pastoral – The Day’s Grown Old
03. Serenade for tenor, horn & strings, Op.31 – Nocturne – The Splendour Falls on Castle Walls
04. Serenade for tenor, horn & strings, Op.31 – Elegy – O Rose, Thou Art Sick
05. Serenade for tenor, horn & strings, Op.31 – Dirge – This Ae Night
06. Serenade for tenor, horn & strings, Op.31 – Hymn – Queen and Huntress Chaste and Fair
07. Serenade for tenor, horn & strings, Op.31 – Sonnet – O Soft Embalmer of the Still Midnight
08. Serenade for tenor, horn & strings, Op.31 – Epilogue
09. Les Illuminations, Op.18 – I. Fanfare
10. Les Illuminations, Op.18 – II. Villes
11. Les Illuminations, Op.18 – IIIa. Phrase
12. Les Illuminations, Op.18 – IIIb. Antique
13. Les Illuminations, Op.18 – IV. Royauté
14. Les Illuminations, Op.18 – V. Marine
15. Les Illuminations, Op.18 – VI. Interlude
16. Les Illuminations, Op.18 – VII. Being beauteous
17. Les Illuminations, Op.18 – VIII. Parade
18. Les Illuminations, Op.18 – IX. Départ
19. Nocturne for tenor, 7 obligato instruments & strings, Op.60 – 1. On a poet’s lips I slept
20. Nocturne for tenor, 7 obligato instruments & strings, Op.60 – 2. Below the thunders of the upper deep
21. Nocturne for tenor, 7 obligato instruments & strings, Op.60 – 3. Encintured with a twine of leaves
22. Nocturne for tenor, 7 obligato instruments & strings, Op.60 – 4. Midnight’s bell goes ting, ting, ting
23. Nocturne for tenor, 7 obligato instruments & strings, Op.60 – 5. But that night when on my bed I lay
24. Nocturne for tenor, 7 obligato instruments & strings, Op.60 – 6. She sleeps on soft, last breaths
25. Nocturne for tenor, 7 obligato instruments & strings, Op.60 – 7. What is more gentle than a wind in summer?
26. Nocturne for tenor, 7 obligato instruments & strings, Op.60 – 8. When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see

Many great works in definitive performances

This 7-CD set, part of Decca’s multi-box packaging of Britten’s complete output, capturres him in tow roles, eminent composer and superlative conductor. The rpice is incredibly low, the sonics are the best that the industry had to offer in the Sixties and Seventies, and every musician involved was the best that Britain had to offer. The compilers have mixed some very obscure and little played works (the oreintal-flavored baallet, Prine of the Pagodas, the Piano Concerto), acknowledged masterpieces (the Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, Less Illuminations, Nocturne), and some neglected works that deserve the status of masterpieces (the Violin concerto, the Holy Sonnets of John Donne).

Since the whole collection sells at super-bargain price, there’s an incentive to buy without risk. Even if certain works don’t apppeal — I almost never relisten to the tough, late music such as the Cello Symphony, for example, and find Prince of the Pagodas a tinkly bore — there are any number of unknown works that will delight newcomers. Styles range from early and extremely accessible (the Simple Symphony, the Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, without narratory by the way) to some thorny, dark expressions that take real concentration (Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo).