Staples,Andrew Britten: Les Illuminations Serenade Nocturne CD

In these three song cycles, Britten draws his inspiration from the peaks of European poetry (Shakespeare, Blake, Shelley, Keats, but also Rimbaud), the better to push back the boundaries of the genre. He multiplies the relationship between voices and instruments, moving from strings alone (Les Illuminations) to a string ensemble featuring obbligato wind instruments, harp and timpani (Nocturne), not forgetting the fascinating dialogue with the horn in the Serenade. A unique sound world is revealed here by artists at the top of their form.

1. Britten: Les Illuminations for Tenor and String Orchestra, Op. 18: I. Fanfare 2. Britten: Les Illuminations for Tenor and String Orchestra, Op. 18: II. Villes 3. Britten: Les Illuminations for Tenor and String Orchestra, Op. 18: III a. Phrase 4. Britten: Les Illuminations for Tenor and String Orchestra, Op. 18: III B. Antique 5. Britten: Les Illuminations for Tenor and String Orchestra, Op. 18: IV. Royaut? 6. Britten: Les Illuminations for Tenor and String Orchestra, Op. 18: V. Marine 7. Britten: Les Illuminations for Tenor and String Orchestra, Op. 18: VI. Interlude 8. Britten: Les Illuminations for Tenor and String Orchestra, Op. 18: VII. Being Beauteous 9. Britten: Les Illuminations for Tenor and String Orchestra, Op. 18: VIII. Parade 10. Britten: Les Illuminations for Tenor and String Orchestra, Op. 18: IX. D?part 11. Britten: Serenade for Horn, Tenor and Strings, Op. 31: I. Prologue 12. Britten: Serenade for Horn, Tenor and Strings, Op. 31: II. Pastoral 13. Britten: Serenade for Horn, Tenor and Strings, Op. 31: III. Nocturne 14. Britten: Serenade for Horn, Tenor and Strings, Op. 31: IV. Elegy 15. Britten: Serenade for Horn, Tenor and Strings, Op. 31: V. Dirge 16. Britten: Serenade for Horn, Tenor and Strings, Op. 31: VI. Hymn 17. Britten: Serenade for Horn, Tenor and Strings, Op. 31: VII. Sonnet 18. Britten: Serenade for Horn, Tenor and Strings, Op. 31: VIII. Epilogue 19. Britten: Nocturne for Tenor, 7 Obbligato Instruments and Strings, Op. 60: I. on a Poet's Lips I Slept 20. Britten: Nocturne for Tenor, 7 Obbligato Instruments and Strings, Op. 60: II. Below the Thunders of the Upper Deep 21. Britten: Nocturne for Tenor, 7 Obbligato Instruments and Strings, Op. 60: III. Encinctured with a Twine of Leaves 22. Britten: Nocturne for Tenor, 7 Obbligato Instruments and Strings, Op. 60: IV. Midnight's Bell Goes Ting, Ting, Ting 23. Britten: Nocturne for Tenor, 7 Obbligato Instruments and Strings, Op. 60: V. But That Night When on My Bed I Lay 24. Britten: Nocturne for Tenor, 7 Obbligato Instruments and Strings, Op. 60: VI. She Sleeps on Soft, Last Breaths 25. Britten: Nocturne for Tenor, 7 Obbligato Instruments and Strings, Op. 60: VII. What Is More Gentle Than a Wind in Summer? 26. Britten: Nocturne for Tenor, 7 Obbligato Instruments and Strings, Op. 60: VIII. When Most I Wink, Then Do Mine Eyes Best See