Search - Benjamin Britten, William Boughton, English String Orchestra :: A Portrait of Britten

An eclectic collection, expertly played

Nicholas Casley | Plymouth, Devon, UK | 01/23/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a fine and eclectic collection over three CDs of Britten pieces, from his early Simple Symphony of 1934 to his Suite on English Folk Tunes of 1973, all competently played by the English Symphony and String Orchestras, conducted by William Boughton.



There are some perennial favourites such as the Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra and the Four Sea Interludes; and there are some not so well-known pieces, such has his Lachrymae on a song by John Dowland.



The highlight for me was a faultless and blistering rendition of his Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge. The Young Person's Guide benefits by Boughton allowing equal prominence to the accompanying orchestra than that given to the solo section. The only smudge on the record is the poor co-ordination evident in the Four Sea Interludes, but even so the playing here is spirited.



The final disc brings together three of Britten's orchestral song cycles, all wonderfully sung by Jerry Hadley. Shame no texts are provided for those new to these marvellously atmospheric works.



The sound quality is as good as one expects from Nimbus recordings, and the whole set is highly recommended.

"