Britten: Les illuminations, Op. 18 - Barber: Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24
11/14/2025, 21 Tracks, 1:00:07
Featuring
Julia Kogan
Steven Lloyd-Gonzalez
Britten Sinfonia
Benjamin Britten
Samuel Barber
Did you know?
1/7
Composition History
Samuel Barber composed "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" in 1947, shortly after his own father's death, moved by James Agee's text as a gesture of shared grief.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Benjamin Britten was drawn to the 'wild and wondrous words' of Arthur Rimbaud, a young genius whose visions gave rise to 'sensuous creativity'.
Historical Context
Britten and Pears returned to England in 1942, facing a world 'on fire' and Britten a public trial as a conscientious objector.
Composition History
Britten composed "Les Illuminations" in North America with his life partner, tenor Peter Pears, completing it at the Meyer family home in Long Island.
Recording & Production
The recording sessions for this album were profoundly affected by the Israel massacre on October 7, 2023, causing a year-long pause before completion.
Recording & Production
This album features the premiere recording of Benjamin Britten's "Les Illuminations" sung in English, translated by Timothy Adès.
Performer Biography
Julia Kogan, the soprano on this recording, was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, to nuclear scientist parents and came to the US as a Soviet Jewish refugee.
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