Britten's Canticles

[Belgrove]

Glyndebourne are staging a new chamber opera at this year's festival based on Abraham and Isaac, Journey of the Magi and The Death of St Narcissus to mark Britten's centenary, in addition to reviving their production of Billy Budd.

The canticles are works I do not know. Does anyone have any recommendations for these canticles, and indeed the others?

[EdgeleyRob]

I only have this one,it's superb,don't really see the need for another.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I only have this one,it's superb,don't really see the need for another.

[jean]

It was only three canticles when I got mine - same performers I think though, Peter Pears and John Hahessy (later John Elwes).)

If you don't know Abraham and Isaac, you will miss something of that part of the War Requiem.

[ardcarp]

Abraham and Isaac is imprinted on me! I have sung it (as a tenor) on more occasions than I can count. It is not only most moving, but it is a piece which will draw in an audience, even an audience that is not used to 'modern' music. Isaac does need to be done by a boy for full emotional effect, especially one whose voice is not far from breaking. Kathleen Ferrier, I think, gave the first performance, but IMO the recording (mine's vinyl) with Pears and John Hahessy takes a lot of beating...especially as BB is playing the piano.

[Master Jacques]

If you like Abraham and Isaac, you might like to hear the recording with Pears, Britten and Norma Proctor - it's superb. They recorded it shortly before Britten fell for (the voice of) John Hahessy, and so Proctor's record was never issued - much to her disappointment. Then a very few years ago, Decca rescued it from the vaults and mastered it for CD. Only then did we realise just what we'd been missing. One of the great recordings, in my opinion.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I don't know the Proctor recording, Master Jacques - so thanks for the "nudge"; Proctor was a superb and under-recorded artist - but it does remind me of one of the recordings that will be forever lost to us: that with Ferrier that DECCA hoped to be able to record in her hospital room in her last illness. They even had a catalogue number set aside for it; one they never subsequently used on any other recording.

[Beef Oven]

I only have this one,it's superb,don't really see the need for another.

[Belgrove]

Many thanks for your recommendations, an almost unanimous response.

Has anyone heard the Naxos recording? With the likes of Philip Landrige, Steuart Bedford and Gerald Finley among the singers, and Judi Dench as narrator, it looks tempting.

[Rolmill]

Surprised not to see any mention of the Bostridge/Daniels/Maltman recording on Virgin from 2002. I have this and think it is very good, although I appreciate that Bostridge's tone and manner are not to all tastes (but then the same could be said of Pears!). I don't know the Decca Britten-accompanied version, so can't offer a comparison - I consider Britten to be an absolutely wonderful pianist and accompanist, though, so will keep an eye out for it!

[Mary Chambers]

It has to be Pears for Canticle 1, 'My beloved is mine', I think. Gives it a whole extra dimension.

[Tevot]

Hello there,

Re # 9 I have the Naxos CD Belgrove and I'm very happy with it. It is reviewed along with other versions on the Presto Classical website. The link is below.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/search.php?searchString=Britten+Canticles

Re # 11. Canticle 1 is probably my favourite Mary - it is so beautiful.

Best Wishes,

Tevot

[mercia]

just making sure that Mary Chambers is aware of this performance - I'm sure she would be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkIcsT_fjAI

[Mary Chambers]

just making sure that Mary Chambers is aware of this performance - I'm sure she would be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkIcsT_fjAI

Yes, I am, but am very happy to be reminded of it. I've just listened to it again. Very late Pears - he would have been 67 when this was performed, not many months after Britten's death. Some lovely photos. I love the one of Pears and Kathleen Ferrier, the original Abraham and Isaac

I hardly dare admit it (though I probably have before), but my mother and I used to perform this piece together, strictly in private. She played the piano and sang Abraham, I sang Isaac. I doubt if it would have passed muster at The Maltings! We got a lot out of it, though.

[Ferretfancy]

Yes, I am, but am very happy to be reminded of it. I've just listened to it again. Very late Pears - he would have been 67 when this was performed, not many months after Britten's death. Some lovely photos. I love the one of Pears and Kathleen Ferrier, the original Abraham and Isaac

I hardly dare admit it (though I probably have before), but my mother and I used to perform this piece together, strictly in private. She played the piano and sang Abraham, I sang Isaac. I doubt if it would have passed muster at The Maltings! We got a lot out of it, though.

I have the Bostridge / Maltman set, and not long ago I added the Maltman set recorded at Wigmore Hall. You won't like this, Mary, but this is music I have to be in just the right mood for, and I'm afraid that I put it on the shelf intending to listen at once, but it's still there!