Britten: Death in Venice

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The Pears/Bedford version tends to emphasise the opera's elegiac side… The Chandos… is certainly not lacking in depth. But it also has an incisive clarity matching Richard Hickox's generally... — BBC Music Magazine, May 2005, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 7th Feb 2005
Catalogue No: CHAN10280
Label: Chandos
Length: 2 hours 31 minutes

Gramophone Awards

2005

Finalist - Opera
BBC Music Magazine

May 2005

Opera Choice
Gramophone Magazine

May 2005

Editor's Choice

This release includes a digital booklet

Chandos - Downloads at MP3 Prices

Special offer ends: 22/05/2024

Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act I Scene 1

Work length12:01

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Philip Langridge, BBC Singers, Alan Opie, Stephen Betterridge

Munich. My mind beats on (Aschenbach, Chorus)

Track length5:38

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Munich. Who's that? (Aschenbach, Traveller)

Track length4:38

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Munich. I have always kept a close watch over my development (Aschenbach)

Track length1:45

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act I Scene 2

Work length9:27

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Alan Opie, Graham Titus, BBC Singers, Stephen Betterridge

On the Boat to Venice. Hey there, hey there, you! (Youths, Elderly Fop, Steward)

Track length6:52

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On the Boat to Venice. Overture

Track length2:35

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act I Scene 3

Work length6:39

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Philip Langridge, Alan Opie, Edward Price, Andrew Murgatroy, BBC Singers, Stephen Betterridge

The Journey to the Lido. Ah Serenissima! (Aschenbach, Gondolier, Boatman, Hotel Porter, Girls and Boys)

Track length5:09

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The Journey to the Lido. Mysterious gondola (Aschenbach)

Track length1:30

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act I Scene 4

Work length11:33

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Alan Opie, Philip Langridge, BBC Singers, Stephen Betterridge

The First Evening at the Hotel. We are delighted to greet the Signore (Hotel Manager, Aschenbach)

Track length2:52

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The First Evening at the Hotel. So I am led to Venice once again (Aschenbach)

Track length3:26

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The First Evening at the Hotel. The Lido is so charming, is it not? (Hotel Guests, Aschenbach)

Track length3:40

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The First Evening at the Hotel. How does such beauty come about? (Aschenbach)

Track length1:35

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act I Scene 5

Work length12:41

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Philip Langridge, Alison Smart, BBC Singers, Stephen Betterridge

On the Beach. The wind is from the West (Aschenbach)

Track length2:26

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On the Beach. Le bele fragole (Strawberry Seller, Aschenbach)

Track length2:21

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On the Beach. Ah, how peaceful to contemplate the sea (Aschenbach, Chorus)

Track length2:51

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On the Beach. Adziù, Adziù! (Chorus)

Track length3:30

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On the Beach. As one who strives to create beauty (Aschenbach)

Track length1:33

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act I Scene 6

Work length15:08

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Alan Opie, Simon Birchall, Philip Langridge, Jennifer Adams-Barbaro, Andrew Murgatroy, John Bowley, Vernon Kirk, Siân Menna, Edward Price, Stephen Charlesworth

The Foiled Departure. Aou'! Stagando, aou'! (Gondolier, Guide, Lace Seller, Glass Maker, Beggar Woman, Waiter, First and Second Gondoliers)

Track length4:48

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The Foiled Departure. Naturally Signore, I understand (Hotel Manager, Hotel Porter, Aschenbach, First and Second Gondoliers)

Track length3:38

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The Foiled Departure. There you are, Signore, just in time (Hotel Porter, Aschenbach)

Track length1:07

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The Foiled Departure. I am become like one of my early heroes (Aschenbach, First Gondolier)

Track length1:52

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The Foiled Departure. A thousand apologies to the Signore (Hotel Manager, Aschenbach)

Track length3:43

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act I Scene 7

Work length16:59

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Michael Chance, Philip Langridge, BBC Singers, Stephen Betterridge

The Games of Apollo. Beneath a dazzling sky the sea… (Voice of Apollo, Chorus of Hotel Guests)

Track length1:17

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The Games of Apollo. No boy, but Phoebus of the golden hair (Voice of Apollo, Chorus of Hotel Guests)

Track length1:57

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The Games of Apollo. See where Hyacinthus plays (Voice of Apollo, Chorus of Hotel Guests)

Track length2:46

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The Games of Apollo. Phaedrus learned what beauty is (Voice of Apollo, Chorus of Hotel Guests)

Track length2:05

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The Games of Apollo. First, the race! (Chorus)

Track length0:52

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The Games of Apollo. Try your skill (Chorus)

Track length0:49

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The Games of Apollo. Young discobolus (Chorus)

Track length0:53

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The Games of Apollo. Up and over (Chorus)

Track length1:08

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The Games of Apollo. Measure to fight (Voice of Apollo, Chorus)

Track length1:03

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The Games of Apollo. The boy, Tadzio, shall inspire me (Aschenbach)

Track length4:09

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act II

Work length5:07

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Philip Langridge

Orchestral introduction

Track length2:26

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So, it has come to this (Aschenbach)

Track length2:41

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act II Scene 8

Work length2:32

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Alan Opie, Philip Langridge

The Hotel Barber's Shop. Guardate, Signore (Hotel Barber, Aschenbach)

Track length2:32

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act II Scene 9

Work length14:36

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Philip Langridge, Paul Charrier, Vernon Kirk, Edward Price, BBC Singers, Stephen Betterridge

The Pursuit. Do I detect a scent? (Aschenbach, First and Second Gondoliers, Citizens, Shopkeepers, Glass Maker, Waiter, Lace Seller, Guide, Beggar Woman, Newspaper Seller)

Track length4:56

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The Pursuit. And now I cannot let them out of sight (Aschenbach)

Track length2:31

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The Pursuit. Kyrie eleison (Priest, Chorus of Citizens, First and Second Gondoliers)

Track length6:09

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The Pursuit. Gustav von Aschenbach, what is this path you have taken? (Aschenbach)

Track length1:00

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act II Scene 10

Work length14:17

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Andrew Murgatroy, Alan Opie, Christopher Foster, Philip Langridge, Stuart MacIntyre, Philip Salmon, BBC Singers, Ildikó Allen, Stephen Betterridge, Eleanor Meynel, Julia Batchelor

The Strolling Players. This way for the players, Signori! (Hotel Porter, Hotel Waiter, Hotel Guests, Boy, Girl)

Track length2:06

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The Strolling Players. La mia nonna always used to tell me (Leader of the Players, Aschenbach, Hotel Porter)

Track length2:14

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The Strolling Players. Fiorir rose in mezo al giasso (Leader of the Players, Chorus, Aschenbach)

Track length4:28

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The Strolling Players. One moment, if you please (A Young English Clerk) - Act II Scene 11. The Travel Bureau (Clerk, Hotel Guests, Aschenbach)

Track length5:29

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act II Scene 12

Work length4:41

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Philip Langridge

The Lady of the Pearls. So it is true, true, more fearful than I thought (Aschenbach)

Track length1:44

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The Lady of the Pearls. So - I didn't speak! (Aschenbach)

Track length2:57

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act II Scene 13

Work length3:42

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Alan Opie, Michael Chance, BBC Singers, Stephen Betterridge

The Dream. Receive the stranger god (Voice of Dionysus, Voice of Apollo, Followers of Dionysus, Aschenbach)

Track length3:42

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act II Scene 14

Work length2:05

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Philip Langridge

The Empty Beach. Do what you will with me! (Aschenbach)

Track length2:05

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act II Scene 15

Work length2:31

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Alan Opie

The Hotel Barber's Shop. Yes! a very wise decision, if I may say so (Hotel Barber)

Track length2:31

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act II Scene 16

Work length7:56

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Philip Langridge, Alison Smart

The Last Visit to Venice. Hurrah for the Piazza (Aschenbach, Strawberry Seller)

Track length4:35

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The Last Visit to Venice. Does beauty lead to wisdom, Phaedrus? (Aschenbach)

Track length3:21

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Britten: Death in Venice, Op. 88, Act II Scene 17

Work length9:16

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Richard Hickox, City of London Sinfonia, Philip Langridge, Alan Opie, Andrew Murgatroy

The Departure. The wind still blows from the land (Hotel Manager, Hotel Porter, Aschenbach)

Track length4:08

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The Departure. Ah, no! (Aschenbach)

Track length5:08

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Favourites, Benjamin Britten

Presto’s founder Maurice Millward sifts through a treasure-chest of Britten recordings and offers his thoughts on which paint the best portrait of this influential genius.

Reviews

May 2005

The Pears/Bedford version tends to emphasise the opera's elegiac side… The Chandos… is certainly not lacking in depth. But it also has an incisive clarity matching Richard Hickox's generally more urgent approach to expression and tempo, and the more anguished Aschenbach of Philip Langridge... His riveting intensity is finely supported by Alan Opie's increasingly sinister evocation of the succession of characters who convey Aschenbach to his doom; easily a match for John Shirley-Quirk on the Decca set, as is the new Apollo of Michael Chance for that of James Bowman.

2010

This recording in Richard Hickox's Britten series is beautifully played and recorded, and in its all-important central role reunites Hickox with Philip Langridge, so compelling in their earlier set of Peter Grimes. Britten tailored the role of Aschenbach so perfectly for Peter Pears's inimitable tenor that it's unlikely any other singer will find it an easy fit. A few years ago Langridge might have been more adept than he is now at handling some of the high-lying lyrical lines, but the compromises in this department are worth making for a singer who's so penetrating in dramatic insight. Hardly a page of the score passes without his vivid delivery opening up some new dimension of the role. As the drama deepens he progressively strips the soul of Aschenbach bare.
His two main colleagues perform to an equally high level. Alan Opie is still in his vocal prime and all seven of his multifarious Dionysiac characters are sharply delineated. The excellent Michael Chance is more ethereal as the Voice of Apollo than James Bowman, and for that reason is preferable by a whisker.
As always, Hickox takes his time over the score, but there's less sense of self-indulgence than in some of his earlier Britten recordings.
He raws playing of high quality and generosity of feeling from the City of London Sinfonia.
Add an exemplary choral contribution from the BBC Singers and a typically atmospheric Chandos recording, and there's no reason to resist.

2010

...matches and in many ways even outshines the fine model of the original recording...Langridge proves an inspired interpreter of the role of Ashenbach [sic], more passionate than Pears, and in his death scene he is even more poignant...Add to that Hickox's powerful, finely-timed pacing of a work which is largely meditative, and the result is totally magnetic.

March 2014

Langridge is an inspired interpreter of the role of Aschenbach; his performance here is matched by Alan Opie’s sinister portrayal of the six characters who convey him to his doom. Michael Chance contributes an ethereally unsettling Voice of Apollo, and Richard Hickox coaxes out every bit of the score's morbid beauty.

Offer,Britten: Death in Venice

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