Britten: Four Folk Songs

Featuring

André Schuen
Karla Haltenwanger
Benjamin Britten

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Benjamin Britten, a composer known for many songs and vocal works, approached folk melodies and texts with sensitivity and modern harmonies, enhancing their expressive power.

Cultural Impact

Britten's folk song arrangements, frequently broadcast on British radio, significantly contributed to his music's widespread recognition among the general public.

Performer Biography

Baritone Andrè Schuen grew up trilingually in South Tyrol, Italy, speaking Ladin, Italian, and German, a versatility reflected in his vocal repertoire.

Composition History

Britten initially hesitated to arrange folk songs due to his aversion to nationalism, but Peter Pears encouraged him to explore British traditional music.

Performer Biography

Pianist Karla Haltenwanger, born in Bucharest, impressed audiences early on, recording Béla Bartók's Mikrokosmos for Romanian television at age seven and performing her first concert with orchestra at eleven.

Composer Biography

Benjamin Britten wrote these folk song arrangements with his life partner, Peter Pears, a tenor, in mind, as they performed them as encores during their recital tours.