Release Date: 1 December 1995
Three recordings from 1941, publicly available for the first time following transfer from the original 78rpm discs and lengthy subsequent treatment: the centrepiece is an off-air recording of the American premiere of Les Illuminations with Peter Pears.
Peter Pears tenor
CBS Symphony Orchestra
Benjamin Britten conductor
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir John Barbirolli conductor
AUDIO
REVIEWS
'These are historical documents of importance ... Technically wonders have been done to what appear to be intractable originals. All Britten and Pears specialists will want the issue to which Colin Matthews contributes authoritative annotations.' Gramophone
'Les Illuminations emerges as a lovely and impassioned work in the hands of a very young Peter Pears' MusicWeb International
'Fievreuse est la musique, emportee, sur des ostinati de cordes, qui doublent le rythme, servie par la voix lineaire, d'une froide et impitoyable purete de Sandrine Piau, parfaitement adaptee aux elans incisifs qui s'ornent soudain de chromatismes et d'arabesques inattendues.' Clic Mag
FUNDERS
RECORDING CREDITS
Les Illuminations was recorded 18 May 1941 at ISCM Festival, New York, USA
Sinfonia da Requiem recorded 30 March 1941
Seven Sonnets recorded in 1941
Restoration & mastering: Simon Heyworth, Marian Freeman, Colin Matthews
(P) & (C) 1995 NMC Recordings Ltd
Catalogue number: NMC D030
Release Date: 1 December 1995