Britten

[antongould]

Not partial to the SdR, don't know about that.

Re choral: I wouldn't look further than this classic http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britten-Camb...britten+ledger

Were you in the choir Rumpole....??

[Bryn]

We're you in the choir Rumpole....??

Quick! Edit that before the apostrophe police get you.

Oops. Too late.

[Nick Armstrong]

Quick! Edit that before the apostrophe police get you.

Oops. Too late.

Bad luck anton!

No I couldn't/can't sing to save my or any one else's life

[Petrushka]

For the Sinfonia da Requiem - one of the few pieces of Britten I care about - go for Previn and the LSO in a fantastic recording:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Peter-Grimes-Perfect-Sinfonia-Requiem/dp/B0000AF1MK/ref=sr_1_33?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1412631801&sr=1-33&keywords=britten+sinfonia+da+requiem

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

For the Sinfonia da Requiem ... go for Previn and the LSO in a fantastic recording:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Peter-Grimes...nia+da+requiem

[EdgeleyRob]

That Naxos SdR is a must at 9p.

As well as Caliban's KCC tip,for lesser known choral works,this is wonderful

[mercia]

even after those you would still need A boy was born http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britten-A-Bo...s+born+britten
and I would want Sacred and Profane too http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britten-Prof...rofane+britten

[rauschwerk]

For the Sinfonia da Requiem - one of the few pieces of Britten I care about - go for Previn and the LSO in a fantastic recording:

A warning about this version: the performance is very fine but the recording has a certain kind of 1960s Decca sound: in particular, the horns all come right out of the left hand speaker and the trombones out of the right. If you like this kind of thing (I don't) then Previn is your man.

Britten makes a rare miscalculation and lets the tension dissipate too early in that extraordinary and crucial link between second and third movements. Of the recordings I know, Rattle's is the finest (I don't know if it's cheap).

I loathe performances of certain Britten works (Hymn to St. Cecilia a prime example) by all-male choirs. JEG has recorded that piece most successfully and I dare say that it can be downloaded cheaply enough. George Malcolm's account with the 'London Symphony Chorus' (a pickup pro choir - 1961) is also impressive. You might like it done with just five solo voices, in which case there are members of London Sinfonietta Voices directed by Terry Edwards. (The slight vibrato they use might be bothersome to some boarders.)

[Mary Chambers]

I don't know much about recordings, so I'm not going to join in with this. Apart from Britten's own versions, I mostly rely on scores and live performances. I have sung almost all of the choral works myself - though for some reason I've never done the Spring Symphony.

[rauschwerk]

...though for some reason I've never done the Spring Symphony.

I count myself fortunate to have done it twice - once with Kertesz, once with Haitink. The first (my first gig with the LSO Chorus) was one of the most exhilarating expereinces of my life.

[aeolium]

I count myself fortunate to have done it twice - once with Kertesz, once with Haitink. The first (my first gig with the LSO Chorus) was one of the most exhilarating expereinces of my life.

What was Kertesz like to perform with, rauschwerk? I have quite a few recordings of his and was sorry that his early death prevented me from being able to see him perform live. Apparently his appointment as chief conductor of the LSO was controversial at the time but I think he was a wonderful conductor.

[rauschwerk]

What was Kertesz like to perform with, rauschwerk? I have quite a few recordings of his and was sorry that his early death prevented me from being able to see him perform live. Apparently his appointment as chief conductor of the LSO was controversial at the time but I think he was a wonderful conductor.

To be honest, I was so completely overawed by finding myself singing behind the wonderful LSO that I don't remember much about details of rehearsals. Kertesz was the first conductor of international repute that I sang for, so I wasn't making comparisons. But I did very much enjoy all the gigs I did with him - Mozart, Britten, Kodaly (right up his street) and Bernstein.

[Mary Chambers]

I count myself fortunate to have done it twice - once with Kertesz, once with Haitink. The first (my first gig with the LSO Chorus) was one of the most exhilarating expereinces of my life.

I'm envious! I think I'd have loved doing it.

[rauschwerk]

I'm envious! I think I'd have loved doing it.

The entry of the boys with Sumer is icumen in remains, for me, one of the greatest moments in all music.

[BBMmk2]

I was listening to Britten's Spring Symphony the other day. Andre Previn's EMI recording with the LSO etc. a very fine recording, matching any others I am sure.

I saw Mark Wigglesworth conduct this at the Proms, a few years ago. No sure if this matched up but certainly very good.