Britten: Saint Nicolas

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This Saint Nicolas is involving from the outset...Kennedy is a gripping Nicolas, palpably a man of practical Christian action, though careful not to over-project operatically...he has a storyteller's... — BBC Music Magazine, February 2014, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 28th Oct 2013
Catalogue No: KGS0003
Label: Kings College
Length: 76 minutes

Presto Recording of the Week

2nd December 2013

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Britten: St Nicolas, Op. 42

Work length49:28

$9.40

$11.75

$13.65

Andrew Kennedy
The Ensemble of King's College Cambridge, Britten Sinfonia, CUMS Chorus, Choir of King's College Cambridge, Sawston Village College Ensemble, Sawston Village College Choir
Stephen Cleobury

I. Introduction

Track length5:35

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$1.25

$1.45

II. The Birth of Nicolas

Track length2:43

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III. Nicolas devotes himself to God

Track length4:33

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IV. He journeys to Palestine

Track length8:18

$1.20

$1.50

$1.75

V. Nicolas comes to Myra and is chosen Bishop

Track length7:01

$1.20

$1.50

$1.75

VI. Nicolas from Prison

Track length2:58

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$1.25

$1.45

VII. Nicolas and the Pickled Boys

Track length6:42

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VIII. His piety and marvellous works

Track length5:03

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IX. The Death of Nicolas

Track length6:35

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Britten: Hymn to St Cecilia, Op. 27

Work length10:24

$1.40

$1.75

$2.05

Choir of King's College Cambridge
Stephen Cleobury

Britten: Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30

Work length16:24

Album only

Ben San Lau
Choir of King's College Cambridge
Stephen Cleobury

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Recording of the Week, Christmas Oratorios from Bach, Berlioz, and Britten

2nd December 2013

The Christmas Oratorio from Trinity College Cambridge, Saint Nicolas from Cambridge University Music Society (with Andrew Kennedy in the title-role), and L’Enfance du Christ from the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Robin Ticciati.

The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge under conductor Stephen Cleobury presents Britten’s enchanting choral masterpiece Saint Nicolas, with Hymn to St Cecilia and Rejoice in the Lamb, celebrating 100 years since Benjamin Britten’s birth. The recording features soloist Andrew Kennedy, a former choral scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, the renowned Britten Sinfonia, Sawston Village College Choir and Cambridge University Musical Society.

The album’s release will be accompanied by an extensive international press and marketing campaign, supported by advertising and video for online and instore use.

The Choir will be touring the release repertoire in the UK in the Autumn, with concerts in Cambridge, Eton, Barbican and the Birmingham Symphony Hall.

Press coverage achieved for Mozart Requiem: Realisations, the second album released on the King’s College, Cambridge label included: BBC Radio 3, In Tune, and a reception with UK Prime Minister David Cameron, in addition to news, preview and review coverage in key music and trade publications such as BBC Music Magazine, Gramophone, Choir & Organ, and International Record Review. The Choir’s Christmas 2012 release of Nine Lessons & Carols reached number 2 in the UK Specialist Classical Chart.

The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge is one of the world’s foremost choirs and unquestionably among the most widely heard. It owes its existence to King Henry VI, who envisaged the daily singing of services in his magnificent chapel. This remains the Choir’s raison d’être, and is an important part of the lives of its 16 choristers, who are educated at King’s College School, and the 14 choral scholars and two organ scholars, who study a variety of subjects in the College. The Choir has been a breeding ground for numerous professional singers, including James Gilchrist and Christopher Purves.

Reviews

February 2014

This Saint Nicolas is involving from the outset...Kennedy is a gripping Nicolas, palpably a man of practical Christian action, though careful not to over-project operatically...he has a storyteller's subtlety and sensitivity...I'm not sure I've ever heard the resonant King's College acoustic captured better.

21st December 2013

[Britten's] 50-minute dramatic cantata should be far better known, and this new recording on King’s own label does it superb justice...The disc includes equally polished performances of two of Britten’s most popular choral works, Hymn to St Cecilia and Rejoice in the Lamb.

3rd January 2014

I had some concern before listening to this disc that the choir might be too small and too sophisticated for the work, but to my surprise that is not the case...Overall the performance avoids the trap of over-sophistication which can so easily kill the impact of the work.

2nd December 2013

Kennedy is thrillingly stentorian when the drama demands, but he’s particularly affecting during his near-Mahlerian dark night of the soul as he languishes in prison...The logistics for this disc were mind-boggling...I know the phrase ‘sonic spectacular’ gets rather over-used these days, but trust me – it’s justified here.

24th November 2013

The choir honours that association [with Britten] with a fresh, beautifully clean and perfectly enunciated account of the cantata Saint Nicolas – patron saint of children and mariners.

19th December 2013

There are other competing interpretations already in the catalogue, but this one...delivers a particularly thrilling, emotionally charged impact...the playing is alert, crisp and brimful of character in the illustrative scene-painting...Kennedy is a fervent saint, voicing his faith and selfless devotion with strength and sensitivity, and the choral singing is first-rate.

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Recording of the Week, Christmas Oratorios from Bach, Berlioz, and Britten

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