The "Courtly Dances" are taken from Britten's opera "Gloriana," an homage to Elizabeth II, which premiered six days after her coronation in 1953.
Critical Reception
Britten feared his "Courtly Dances" from "Gloriana" would be seen as pastiche, and despite modern harmonies, critics sometimes still perceive them that way.
Composition History
Britten's "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" was written for a British Ministry of Education film titled "Instruments of the Orchestra" in 1945.
Composition History
Britten's "Sinfonia da requiem" was commissioned by the Japanese government to celebrate the 2600th anniversary of its ruling dynasty, but he dedicated it to the memory of his parents and the "world tragedies" of the Spanish and current wars.
Critical Reception
The Japanese government rejected Britten's "Sinfonia da requiem" because its Christian character was deemed out of step with the occasion for which it was commissioned.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in February 2025 at the Auditorium Rainier III, Monaco, with Polyhymnia International BV handling the recording.
Composition History
Benjamin Britten's "Les Illuminations" was completed in Amityville, New York, in October 1939, shortly after he had left Europe due to the outbreak of war.
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