Britten: Spring Symphony, Sinfonia Da Requiem, the Young Person's Guid (Super Audio CD)

This album combines three of Britten's enduringly popular, yet vastly distinctive works. Sir Simon Rattle leads us on an unexpected journey through this diverse collection of masterpieces. Written shortly after the outbreak of World War II, Sinfonia da Requiem meditates in part on the political populism which had, for the second time in just a few decades, plunged the world in to an existential crisis. In this piece, Britten's rich, yearning harmonies reveal a sombre and dramatic warning of the cost of conflict. From the darkness of war, we move towards the light with Britten's choral Spring Symphony. With it's mysterious reimagining of traditional English folk song and verse, the work depicts the gradual reawakening of the natural world when winter ebbs away, and spring begins to triumph. Britten let his imagination catch fire in The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. This brilliantly original showpiece is one of the composer's best-known pieces, and draws the album to a close.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20
2. I. Lacrymosa. Andante ben misurato
3. II. Dies irae. Allegro con fuoco – Alla marcia
4. III. Requiem aeternam. Andante molto tranquillo
5. Spring Symphony, Op. 44
6. Part I. Introduction. Shine out (chorus)
7. Part I. The Merry Cuckoo (tenor)
8. Part I. Spring, the Sweet Spring (soprano, alto, tenor, chorus)
9. Part I. The Driving Boy (soprano, children’s chorus)
10. Part I. The Morning Star (chorus)
11. Part II. Welcome, Maids of Honour (alto)
12. Part II. Waters above (tenor)
13. Part II. Out on the Lawn I lie in Bed (alto, chorus)
14. Part III. When will my May come (tenor)
15. Part III. Fair and Fair (soprano, tenor)
16. Part III. Sound the Flute (chorus, children’s chorus)
17. Part IV. Finale. London, to Thee I do Present (soprano, alto, tenor, chorus, children’s chorus)
18. The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34
19. I. Theme. Allegro maestoso e largamente
20. II. Variations A-D, Woodwinds. Presto – Lento – Moderato – Allegro alla marcia
21. III. Variations E-H, Strings. Brillante, alla polacca – Meno mosso – Cominciando lento ma poco a poco accelerando
22. IV. Variation I, Harp. Maestoso
23. V. Variations J-L, Brass. L’istesso tempo – Vivace – Allegro pomposo
24. VI. Variation M, Percussion. Moderato
25. VII. Fugue. Allegro molto - Animato