Britten: Piano Concerto / Johnson Over Jordan Suite

Featuring

Steuart Bedford
Joanna MacGregor
London Symphony Orchestra
English Chamber Orchestra
Benjamin Britten

Did you know?

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Performer Biography

Steuart Bedford, the conductor, is a leading expert on Benjamin Britten's works, having collaborated with the composer and conducted the world premiere of his opera Death in Venice.

Compositional Technique

Britten conceived his Piano Concerto to exploit the instrument's characteristics like its enormous compass, percussive quality, and suitability for figuration, rather than as a 'Symphony with pianoforte'.

Composition History

Britten's 'choral operetta' Paul Bunyan, based on American myth, was withdrawn after its 1941 New York premiere due to dramatic flaws and negative reviews, only to be revived in 1976.

Recording & Production

Tracks 6 and 7-12 on this album were World Premiere Recordings when they were originally released by Collins Classics in 1990 and 1991.

Composer Biography

Benjamin Britten, the composer, supplemented his income during the 1930s and early 1940s by writing a large amount of incidental music for radio, stage, and film.

Performer Biography

Joanna MacGregor, the pianist on this recording, is known for her innovative and wide-ranging approach, performing classical, jazz, and contemporary music globally.

Recording & Production

This album includes a rare recording of the original third movement of Britten's Piano Concerto, offering the option to hear the work as the composer first envisioned it.