Britten: Simple Symphony / Temporal Variations / Suite On English Folk Tunes

Featuring

Steuart Bedford
Nicholas Daniel
Catherine Wyn-Rogers
Philip Dukes
Royal Northern Sinfonia
Benjamin Britten

Did you know?

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Critical Reception

Britten's Temporal Variations for oboe and piano, composed in 1936, was withdrawn by the composer after negative critical reviews, despite a favorable audience response.

Recording & Production

This album includes the world première recordings of Britten's Temporal Variations (orchestrated by Colin Matthews) and A Charm of Lullabies (arranged by Colin Matthews).

Compositional Technique

Britten's Lachrymae, Op. 48a, subtitled 'Reflections on a song of John Dowland,' does not grow out of the Dowland song 'If my complaints could passions move' as much as it grows into it, revealing the original at the conclusion.

Performer Biography

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

Composition History

The Simple Symphony, Op. 4, was created by Britten in 1933 by reworking material from his earliest compositions to make it 'more fit for general consumption' for the schools market.

Performer Biography

Nicholas Daniel, the oboist on this recording, was the winner of the BBC's prestigious Young Musician of the Year Competition at age eighteen and is known for championing new repertoire.