Britten - Double Concerto · Young Apollo · Sinfonietta / Kremer · Bashmet · Nagano

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The young Benjamin Britten was profligate with scores--three of these pieces are unheard since his student days, yet hardly inferior to works of his maturity. The 1939 "Young Apollo," his seven-minute fanfare for piano, string quartet, and strings, is marginally the least obscure: its inventive drive and vigor are clearly Britten, and yet, like the other pieces here, in some sense the radical road not taken. The Double Concerto of 1932 for violin and viola announces itself with broody discords and moves rapidly into eloquent fiddling from the two soloists--Gidon Kremer and Yuri Bashmet respond well to this music and give it its full and considerable weight. The 1930 Portraits for string orchestra, the second featuring Bashmet again as soloist in a moody self-portrait, foreshadow much of what Britten was to do later with string orchestra. Nagano deserves congratulations for selecting this innovative program and for the restraint needed in performing work so delicate and inventive; he finally breaks out into virtuosity in the finale of the small-orchestra version of the Sinfonietta, making a case for its being quite as fine as the chamber version Britten acknowledged as his Op. 1. --Roz Kaveney

Tracks:

Young Apollo, Op. 16: Moderato - Allegro molto
Double Concerto In B Minor: I. Allegro ma non troppo
Double Concerto In B Minor: II. Rhapsody. Poco lento
Double Concerto In B Minor: III. Allegro scherzando - Allegro non troppo
Two Portraits: No. 1 'David Layton' For String Orchetra - Poco presto
Two Portraits: No. 2 'E.B.B.' For Solo Viola And String Orchestra - Poco lento
Sinfonietta, Op. 1: I. Poco presto ed agitato
Sinfonietta, Op. 1: II. Variations. Andante lento
Sinfonietta, Op. 1: III. Tarantella. Presto vivace

Amazon.com

The young Benjamin Britten was profligate with scores--three of these pieces are unheard since his student days, yet hardly inferior to works of his maturity. The 1939 "Young Apollo," his seven-minute fanfare for piano, string quartet, and strings, is marginally the least obscure: its inventive drive and vigor are clearly Britten, and yet, like the other pieces here, in some sense the radical road not taken. The Double Concerto of 1932 for violin and viola announces itself with broody discords and moves rapidly into eloquent fiddling from the two soloists--Gidon Kremer and Yuri Bashmet respond well to this music and give it its full and considerable weight. The 1930 Portraits for string orchestra, the second featuring Bashmet again as soloist in a moody self-portrait, foreshadow much of what Britten was to do later with string orchestra. Nagano deserves congratulations for selecting this innovative program and for the restraint needed in performing work so delicate and inventive; he finally breaks out into virtuosity in the finale of the small-orchestra version of the Sinfonietta, making a case for its being quite as fine as the chamber version Britten acknowledged as his Op. 1. --Roz Kaveney

Customer Reviews:

An unusually fine window into early Britten.......2004-06-18

For admirers of Benjamin Britten's work, this recording will probably be seen as indispensable, given the rarity of the pieces. All are engaging, and played with great spirit by the Halle Orchestra with Kent Nagano at the helm.

My favorite is a work I had never heard before this recording, "Young Apollo" for piano and strings. About seven minutes long, it is ripe with gorgeous harmonies, catchy rhythms, and its sunny spirit is just beautifully handled by Nagano and the orchestra. Needless to say, it makes a fine, attention-getting start to the recording.

The rest of the CD is terrific, ending with an impressively virtuosic performance of the "Sinfonietta," in its version for small orchestra. Erato's sound quality is lovely -- very warm and natural -- only adding to the pleasure.

Four Works of Youth Worth Obtaining.......1999-10-16

I was amazed, after I heard the piece, to learn that Britten had written the Double Concerto at the tender age of 18. This is a piece that could easily find its way into the standard repertoire. There's a lot of mature Britten here. The work is both immediately engaging and thought-provoking, like the best of his other concertos and string quartets. Obviously that must have been what attracted Bashmet and Kremer to the piece. These superstars are exactly the right prescription for a successful performance - 100% commitment and unparalleled musicianship. The other pieces are also engaging, of course: "Young Apollo" and "Two Portraits" are in that category of Britten where the composer goes out on a limb compositionally but doesn't cut off the branch behind him. Most Britten lovers already know the Sinfonietta, Op. 1. Here we have an alternative orchestration, rediscovered in the 1980's, in an excellent, balanced performance and recording. The Halle under Kent Nagano is superb. Do yourself a favor - get this CD!

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