Britten: Cello Symphony and Other Works

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The Cello Symphony, written in 1963 as part of a series for the great Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, was the first major sonata-form work written since the Sinfonia. The idea of a struggle... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Catalogue No: E4251002
Label: Decca
Length: 74 minutes

Building a Library

March 2005

First Choice
Building a Library

June 2017

First Choice

Britten: Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 68

Work length34:12

$4.40

$6.00

Mstislav Rostropovich (cello)
English Chamber Orchestra
Benjamin Britten
Recorded: 1964-07-18
Recording Venue: Kingsway Hall, London

Allegro maestoso

Track length12:33

$1.10

$1.50

Presto inquieto

Track length3:42

$1.10

$1.50

Adagio

Track length10:35

$1.10

$1.50

Passacaglia

Track length7:22

$1.10

$1.50

Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20

Work length20:31

$3.30

$4.50

New Philharmonia Orchestra
Benjamin Britten
Recorded: 1964-12-18
Recording Venue: Kingsway Hall, London

Lacrymosa

Track length8:51

$1.10

$1.50

Dies Irae

Track length5:03

$1.10

$1.50

Requiem aeternam

Track length6:37

$1.10

$1.50

Britten: Cantata Misericordium, Op. 69

Work length19:52

$1.10

$1.50

Peter Pears (tenor), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)
London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra
Benjamin Britten
Recorded: 1963-12-14
Recording Venue: Kingsway Hall, London

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Composer Guides, 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

2010

The Cello Symphony, written in 1963 as part of a series for the great Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, was the first major sonata-form work written since the Sinfonia. The idea of a struggle between soloist and orchestra, implicit in the traditional concerto, has no part here; it's a conversation between the two. Rostropovich plays with a depth of feeling that has never quite been equalled in other recordings and the playing of the English Chamber Orchestra has great bite. The recording, too, is extraordinarily fine for its years.
From the opening drumbeat the Sinfonia employs a sonata form with dramatic power, although the tone is never fierce or savage; it has an implacable tread and momentum. The central movement, 'Dies irae', however, has a real sense of fury, satirical in its biting comment – the flutter-tongued wind writing rattling its defiance.
The closing 'Requiem aeternam' is a movement of restrained beauty. The New Philharmonia play superbly. The Cantata misericor-dium was written in 1962 as a commission from the Red Cross. It takes the story of the Good Samaritan and is scored for tenor and baritone soloists, chorus, string quartet and orchestra. It's a universal plea for charity and receives a powerful reading. A must for any Britten enthusiast.

March 2014

Landmark performances of three lesser-known works by their dedicatees... The early Sinfonia da Requiem (written when Britten was just 26) is distinguished by the visceral playing of the New Philharmonia. Britten himself conducts dramatic and powerful readings of all three works.

Britten: Cello Symphony and Other Works

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Composer Guides, Benjamin Britten

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