Britten: Canticles Nos. 1-5 / the Heart of the Matter (English Song, Vol. 9)
5/1/2005, 12 Tracks, 1:06:46
Featuring
Philip Langridge
Steuart Bedford
Jean Rigby
Judi Dench
Frank Lloyd
Derek Lee Ragin
Gerald Finley
Osian Ellis
Benjamin Britten
Did you know?
1/6
Performer Biography
Philip Langridge, one of the world's most distinguished singers, has received numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, a Gramophone Award, and an Olivier Award.
Performer Biography
Dame Judi Dench, the narrator on this album, has had a distinguished career spanning over forty years in stage, television, and film, earning more than 25 awards, including an Academy Award and multiple BAFTAs.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Benjamin Britten's five Canticles, though varied in instrumentation, all feature the tenor voice and were written with his muse, Peter Pears, in mind.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Britten saw his Canticles as a new form, rooted in the Divine Hymns of Purcell, each functioning as a miniature cantata with several movements and presenting a religious text in a semi-dramatic context.
Performer Biography
Derek Lee Ragin is a renowned countertenor, celebrated for his mastery of Baroque vocal style and his expressive interpretations of contemporary music, earning him accolades and awards including first prize at the 35th International Music Competition in Munich.
Composition History
Britten's Canticles span nearly his entire career, from the early 1940s to the mid-1970s, and were composed for various forces and singers.
