Search - Britten, Hickox, Northern Sinfonia of England :: Simple Symphony / Nocturne / Rosa Mystica

Two masterful song cycles from Rolfe-Johnson

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 02/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After the retirement of Peter Pears, the title of best tenor in Britain was tossed between Phillip Langridge and Anthony Rolfe-Johnson, both of whom turned into great singers of Britten's music. Two masterful song cycles written for Pears, the Nocturne and Les Illuminations, are beautifully sung here by Rolfe-Johnson in prime voice. Leaving aside the alluring sweetness of his tone, his diction far outstrips Pears's, which is very important given how careful Britten was about selecting poetry to set.



The Nocturne performance rises to first choice (Pears's stereo version finds him in clotted voice, the poetry all but unintelligible) and has excellent conducting by Richard Hickox. Jane Glover is more routine leading Les Illuminations, but Rolfe-Johnson carries the peice by his haunted, note-perfect singing. All it lacks is the erotic sinuousness that even in old age Pears could impart."