BaL 3.06.17 - Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem

[BBMmk2]

Same here

Coupled with Cello Symphony as well! Off hand there's another one, isn't here, a coupling?

[Stanfordian]

I have fond memories of a 2010 Philharmonie Munich performance of the Britten Sinfonia da Requiem that I reported from given by the Münchner Philharmoniker under Andrew Manze conducting a fascinating programme of Britten and Purcell. I remember the concert well as it was on the same evening of the UEFA Champion's League Final in which Bayern Munich was playing and lost.

I also admire the 1976 Lukaskirche, Dresden recording by the Staatskapelle Dresden under Rudolf Kempe reissued on Berlin Classics (originally released GDR's Eterna) c/w The Firebird (1919 Suite).

[visualnickmos]

Let's not be too harsh.

Quite.

[Bryn]

Seems to have been left out. It is listed on amazon.co.uk as an "EP", and is also available as an mp3 download.

[teamsaint]

Re HS's post, I 'd have to say that it is hard to think of any composer, certainly from anything like the popular mainstream ( which would include somebody like Tippett,) where I can't find something that I like, even if most of their work may not do it for me.

[Pulcinella]

Unsurprisingly, no Japanese conductor appears to have recorded the work. I wonder when one will risk the potential calumny?

I tried to search the Boston Symphony archive site to see if Ozawa had conducted it there, but didn't get very far.

[Beef Oven!]

Seems to have been left out. It is listed on amazon.co.uk as an "EP", and is also available as an mp3 download.

But that's the 12'' vinyl version, right

[EdgeleyRob]

New Philharmonia/Britten for me.
This was the piece that first opened my ears to the fact that English composers wrote great music too,not just the Austro-German guys.
I've never looked back,mid 70s I heard it on LP borrowed from the school record library,can't remember the performers,might have been Previn.

[vibratoforever]

And the point of your post is? (apart from namedropping)

I was certainly interested to learn of some conductors who had taken up the work. Your post has no valuable point.

[Beef Oven!]

I was certainly interested to learn of some conductors who had taken up the work. Your post has no valuable point.

Nothing lost - HS says we can send him a private message, and he's happy to answer the many questions we must have about conductors, performances and musical events (his words, not mine). I was going to ask him a question, but I couldn't think of one.

[Beef Oven!]

A brief, very interesting outdoor discussion between Thomas Adès and Tom Service, followed by Adès conducting the BBSO in Britten's Sinfonia Da Requiem.

Excellent camera-work, top-notch visual and sound quality. Excellent performances by all!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

That is an excellent performance, BeefO - many thanks - Ades is such a good conductor.

My feelings towards Britten's Music fluctuate - and there are many of his works, from the 1950s in particular that I find (literally) repulsive - but this work has always remained a favourite - the sheer surge of the Music! It was a great piece for students starting "A"-level courses, too, succinctly showing how the "same" Music could demonstrate opposing "concepts": the way the aggressive syncopated brass motif (starting at 13min 10) becomes the lamenting flute duet starting the final section (15min 45"); and how the shrapnel that tears the Music apart (starting at 14mins 30") becomes the rocking, gentle accompaniment to this lament - these sort of features led to such fantastic discussions amongst the young adults, and real involvement in the potential of Musical expression. Many, many glowing memories (to offset the hours of pointing out consecutive fifths in the months that followed).

[Pulcinella]

Adès was a name that did crop up as one of the conductors of a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Adès was a name that did crop up as one of the conductors of a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance.

I'm not sure I understand this, Pulcie

[Alison]

Excellent find Beef, a splendid start to my day.

The Albert Hall acoustic really comes into its own sometimes!

Spot on characterisation from Ades.