The late great derek jarmans film of benjamin brittens unique choral work. Peter pears, london symphony chorus, the bach choir, melos ensemble, london symphony orchestra, benjamin britten. However, this britten recording has an irreplaceable page in the annals of this wonderful and profoundly moving work. For the text of the war requiem, britten interspersed the latin mass for the dead with nine poems written by wilfred owen pictured at left, a world war i footsoldier who was killed a week before the armistice. This particular recording of the war requiem by bejamin britten is notable for a number of reasons. Naturally decca s sound from the early 60s isnt as good as what we enjoy on the latest recordings, but it is clear and vivid for its time.
I have little doubt that they will all be excellent, but i am even more certain that none of them will match the searing intensity of the premiere recording of the war requiem released by decca in 1963, conducted by the composer with an ideal cast of singers, produced by. The plea for peace that war requiem embodies is perhaps even more urgent in 2006 than was the case in 1961. War requiem decca the originals by dietrich fischerdieskau london symphony orchestra the bach choir benjamin britten london. Among 20th century british largescale choral works only waltons belshazzars feast had. Info for britten war requiem decca has used the most recent digital and cedar technology to improve the original sound, under the overall supervision of veteran technician james lock. According to the brittenpears foundations war requiem website, dunkerley, one of. He was a central figure of 20thcentury british classical music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces. Britten, war requiem, 3 offertorium, score youtube. So spoke the usually sceptical ernst roth, brittens publisher, after the momentous 1962 premiere of the war requiem at the consecration of coventry.
A 50cd set of legendary recordings celebrating the worldrenowned decca sound. The war requiem was performed for the consecration of the new coventry cathedral, which was built after the original fourteenthcentury structure was destroyed in a world war ii bombing raid. P 1963 the decca record company limited, london c 1985 the decca record company limited, london recording location. The music sets the traditional latin text of the requiem mass alongside war poetry by wilfred owen. Benjamin brittens war requiem brittens response to the collective bloodshed of the 20th century remains as vital and visceral. Certainly it seems to me that the work and this superb recording, definitive in so many ways, speak to us as powerfully. It was a score which immediately captured the public imagination.
Britten intersperses his setting of the traditional latin missa pro defunctis with nine poems of the first world war poet wilfred owen. He died 4th december 1976 in aldeburgh, where his festival is still held. Benjamin brittens war requiem uncovered 2014 southbank. She currently holds the position of honored artist of russia at the mariinsky theatre. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The war requiem was immediately hailed by critics as a masterpiece confirming britten as the finest british composer of his era. Peter pears, dietrich fischerdieskau, galina vishnevskaya, benjamin britten, london symphony orchestra and chorus, melos ensemble of london britten.
The britten war requiem is one of the last undisputed classical masterpieces, so what we have in this recording conducted by britten himself is very special. Britten s longstanding relationship with the decca record labellike stravinskys with columbiahas supplied posterity with definitive recordings of a kind unimaginable to earlier composers. A subreddit for makers, enjoyers, or others interested in choral music, choruses, vocal ensembles, and other associated topics. Benjamin brittens war requiem brittens response to the collective bloodshed of the 20th century remains as vital and visceral as it was when his requiem premiered more than 50. Brittens longstanding relationship with the decca record labellike stravinskys with columbiahas supplied posterity with definitive recordings of a kind unimaginable to earlier composers. As well as a loving remastering of brittens own classic 1963 studio account for decca, there has been an historic recording of the czech premiere 1966. The traditional latin texts are interspersed, in telling. Britten s war requiem 1963 is the first recording of benjamin britten s war requiem. Like many in the 20th century, benjamin brittens life was defined by war even though war itself affected him little. Coventry cathedral had been destroyed during the battle of britain in world war ii. The accompanying booklet offers full sung texts and a new essay on war requiem by film maker christopher palmer, while britten scholar donald mitchell tells the story of how decca came to record britten in rehearsal. Faced with the task of creating a visual equivalent to brittens work, and using only the words britten used the poems. The special edition of that version contains portions of the rehearsal and recording sessions which allow us to hear from britten directly how the music should be phrased, sung, and played.
Cd is manufactured by polygram in hanover, west germany. Special thanks to the benjamin brittens instrumental. Classicstatus pioneering stereo recordings from the past 60 years and starring a galaxy of. He seems to inspire everyone around him with a different sort of singlemindedness, which is simply that of doing justiceto the music at hand. It has bridged the emotions of two wars, and has continued to project its message forcefully through the turbulent years that have followed. Lsobenjamin britten 1962 decca 475 7511 i thought mozart and verdi had said it all.
The war requiem does not just look back to past conflicts. Early in 1963 britten recorded war requiem with his regular record company, decca, in londons kingsway hall. But as bernstein statedthat britten was a man at odds with the world. Soprano annette dasch has more solid intonation than deccas galina vishnevskaya, but the russian divas imperious voice is loaded with sibylline authority. The war requiem was written for the reconsecration of coventry cathedral the old cathedral is pictured at left, and was first performed there 30 may 1962. The recording took place in the kingsway hall in london and was produced by john culshaw for decca. The war requiem was composed at the red house in aldeburgh, the suffolk town where britten and pears made their home. Britten himself was the conductor, and took painstaking care to ensure that the recording process captured his music as accurately as possible. He debuts with opera memphis in lee hoibys this is the rill speaking this spring. Benjamin britten composer 191976 play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. So abram rose, and clave the wood artist kurt masur, gerald finley, london philharmonic orchestra, christine brewer, anthony dean griffey.
The sanctus and benedictus are messages of serene joy, even in a mass for the dead, and britten accepts them as such, however ambiguous the attitude in which he then looks back on them through the owen poem he appends, palmer writes. Order from your preferred classical music cd store. Britten intersperses his setting of the traditional latin missa pro defunctis with nine poems of the first world war poet wilfred owen, resulting in highly subtle and powerful contrasts and ironies. Beyond the huge catalogue of britten s own recordings of his works for decca classics, which account for 75% of this complete. Very often in the war requiem, brittens music follows the text quite literally when instruments are referred to in the poetry, they are heard in the music, and onomatopoeic words are illustrated musically. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. With flawless sound and a wide dynamic range, this is one of the finest and most movingly shaped accounts of the war requiem in many years, benefiting hugely from pappanos innate sense for dramatic pacing. And although the sacd sound is clean and has imaginative surround effects, this release will not occupy a. War requiem britten, london symphony with fischerdieskau, dietrich, vishnevskaya, galina on cd. Brittens war requiem 1963 is the first recording of benjamin brittens war requiem. To commemorate 100 years since world war one in nov 2014, southbank centre staged a special performance of benjamin brittens war requiem featuring hundreds of young performers. Britten war requiem first performance from coventry.
Special thanks to the benjamin brittens instrumental faculty. When britten left decca, five years later, culshaw wrote of his recordings with him. Britten was commissioned to write a piece for the ceremony marking the completion of a new cathedral, designed by basil spence, built along side the the. It was commissioned to mark the consecration of coventry cathedral, which was rebuilt following a bombing raid in world war ii. He wis a central figur o 20tcentury breetish clessical muisic, wi a range o wirks includin opera, ither vocal muisic, orchestral an chamber pieces. The result, the war requiem, is regarded by many as his masterpiece in the nonoperatic sphere. Now, in the centenary of britten s birth, numerous new recordings by leading soloists and conductors are appearing. Some rehearsals of early sections had already taken place before the work had been completed. Britten started work on the composition sketch in april 1961, and completed the full score on holiday in greece the following january. The recording featured galina vishnevskaya, who was permitted to appear, pears and fischerdieskau, the bach choir and london symphony orchestra chorus, highgate school choir, the lso and melos ensemble, and britten conducted the whole. Orchestra and the bach choir conducted by britten, was produced by decca in 1963. War requiem choral score satb choral score benjamin britten. In total contrast to the spirit of england, written by britten s compatriot edward elgar, the war requiem was a decidedly antiwar piece.
Full sung texts are provided, whereas testaments are available only online in pdf format. War requiem decca the originals by dietrich fischerdieskau london symphony orchestra the bach choir benjamin britten london symphony chorus the melos ensemble of london galina vishnevskaya peter pears from amazons classical music store. Edward benjamin britten, baron britten, om ch 22 november 19 4 december 1976 wis an inglis componer, conductor an pianist. At the entry of britain into what became global conflict in the 1939, britten. Though he took a brief sojourn from opera to write the war requiem, it is clear that the dramatic spirit that fueled his operatic efforts carried over into this work, his most monumental effort. Liebeslieder waltzer at twickenham music festival, brittens war requiem at lawrence conservatory and as baritone soloist in performances of mozart, beethoven and bach with the bach festival society of winter park. War requiem 2 cds, an album by benjamin britten, galina vishnevskaya, sir peter pears, dietrich fischerdieskau, the bach choir, london symphony chorus, melos ensemble, london symphony orchestra on spotify. It seems fitting on memorial day to remember benjamin brittens war requiem op. Benjamin brittens war requiem, first performed in 1962 at the dedication of the newly rebuilt coventry. No work has benefited more from the anniversary celebrations than the composers masterpiece, the war requiem, his powerfully challenging tribute to the fallen on all sides of world war ii. As britten completed each section of the war requiem vocal scores for the singers to rehearse with were prepared by brittens assistant, imogen holst. The war requiem, first performed on 30 may 1962, is among the most famous of britten s works. It featured galina vishnevskaya, dietrich fischerdieskau and peter pears with the london symphony orchestra, the melos ensemble, the bach choir and the highgate school choir, and was conducted by britten himself. Britten and decca enjoyed a unique relationship with the composer recording most of his key works for the label.
The poetry is in the pity benjamin brittens war requiem tracks and clips 1. Choral, opera, ballet, orchestral, chamber, piano, strings, concert and brass band music repertoire. Dec 10, 20 britten was born on the 22nd november 19 in lowestoft. The war requiem, first performed on 30 may 1962, is among the most famous of brittens works. A short pause from the themes of war and death present in the rest of the requiem is offered by the fourth section. Kingsway hall, london, january 1963 the decca record company limited, london, england. So spoke the usually sceptical ernst roth, brittens publisher, after the momentous 1962 premiere of the war requiem at. Benjamin brittens war requiem watch full concert in hd. Feb 26, 2015 to commemorate 100 years since world war one in nov 2014, southbank centre staged a special performance of benjamin brittens war requiem featuring hundreds of young performers.
Benjamin britten spent most of the 1950s adding to a string of successful operas that had begun with peter grimes in the mid1940s. Yet the war requiems progressive score is not primarily what makes it. Im looking for a pdf copy of benjamin brittens war requiem to read on my ipad. Edward benjamin britten, baron britten om ch 22 november 19 4 december 1976 was an english composer, conductor, and pianist. For those who are familiar with the war requiem, this release acts as an important appendix to the legendary decca release under the composers direction.
In fact, decca had decided to record the war requiem in 1961, even before the work was. This is one of the great performances of recording history. So spoke the usually sceptical ernst roth, brittens publisher, after the momentous 1962 premiere of the war requiem at the consecration of coventry cathedral. Now, in the centenary of brittens birth, numerous new recordings by leading soloists and conductors are appearing.
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