IDAGIO | Britten: Phaedra - A Charm of Lullabies - Lachrymae - Two Portraits

Featuring

Edward Gardner
Dame Sarah Connolly
Susan Monks
Elizabeth Burley
Maxim Rysanov
BBC Symphony Orchestra

Benjamin Britten

Did you know?

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Composer Biography

Like many great composers, Britten was an accomplished viola player and wrote several pieces featuring the instrument in his youth.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Britten dedicated his Sinfonietta to his teacher and mentor, Frank Bridge, who encouraged progressive compositional trends from mainland Europe, particularly the Second Viennese School.

Composer Biography

Benjamin Britten's works on this album span from his Opus 1 to Opus 93, covering over 45 years of his life, from when he entered the Royal College of Music at age sixteen to his final year.

Performer Biography

Maxim Rysanov, the viola soloist, plays an instrument made by Giuseppe Guadagnini in 1780, on loan from the Elise Mathilde Foundation.

Composition History

Britten's Sinfonietta, his Opus 1, was originally written for ten instruments in just three weeks, showcasing his early fluency and virtuoso technique.

Recording & Production

The harpsichord used in this recording of Phaedra is the same instrument Benjamin Britten himself played in his own recording of the work.

Composition History

Britten's Phaedra, Op. 93, was modeled on Italian baroque cantatas by Handel, featuring a mezzo-soprano with strings and percussion, articulated by recitatives with harpsichord and cello continuo.