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Britten: Les Illuminations, Serenade, Nocturne

Andrew Staples (tenor), Christopher Parkes (horn), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding

Britten: Les Illuminations, Serenade, Nocturne

Awards:

The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Daniel Harding throws some grit into the opening fanfares [of Les Illuminations], but soon demonstrates its refinement and range of tone colour...Staples...

Britten: Les Illuminations, Serenade, Nocturne

Andrew Staples (tenor), Christopher Parkes (horn), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding

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Awards:

The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Daniel Harding throws some grit into the opening fanfares [of Les Illuminations], but soon demonstrates its refinement and range of tone colour...Staples...

About

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!

Contents and tracklist

I. Fanfare
Track length2:04
II. Villes
Track length2:28
III a. Phrase
Track length1:05
III b. Antique
Track length2:15
IV. Royauté
Track length1:32
V. Marine
Track length0:58
VI. Interlude
Track length2:49
VII. Being Beauteous
Track length4:05
VIII. Parade
Track length2:43
IX. Départ
Track length2:47
I. Prologue
Track length1:22
II. Pastoral
Track length3:05
III. Nocturne
Track length3:38
IV. Elegy
Track length4:25
V. Dirge
Track length3:21
VI. Hymn
Track length2:03
VII. Sonnet
Track length4:01
VIII. Epilogue
Track length1:30
I. On a poet's lips I slept
Track length3:10
II. Below the thunders of the upper deep
Track length3:24
III. Encinctured with a twine of leaves
Track length2:40
IV. Midnight's bell goes ting, ting, ting
Track length2:24
V. But that night when on my bed I lay
Track length3:00
VI. She sleeps on soft, last breaths
Track length4:28
VII. What is more gentle than a wind in summer?
Track length3:57
VIII. When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see
Track length4:39

Awards and reviews

  • International Classical Music Awards
    2023
    Nominated - Vocal Music

October 2022

The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Daniel Harding throws some grit into the opening fanfares [of Les Illuminations], but soon demonstrates its refinement and range of tone colour...Staples generally sings beautifully, avoiding the extreme characterisation of Ian Bostridge, his best rival in this programme.

4th August 2022

Staples is hugely impressive in [the Serenade and the Nocturne], reinforced in the Serenade by superb solo horn playing by Christopher Parkes, but he seems to me to be at his very best in Les Illuminations, where he brings just the right amount of steeliness to its powerful declamations.

Record Review 29th July 2017

It’s an intoxicating set of performances … the singing is sublime; stylish soloists, lively chorus, everything ornamented with a natural exuberance that seems absolutely fitting. The recording is equally impressive and the lavish presentation is fitting.
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