Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Decca 417428-2

1989
Disc 1
The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op.35
Benjamin Britten, piano / Peter Pears, ténor
November 1967
Snape, Suffolk
  1. Oh, my blacke Soule! (03:19)
  2. Better my heart (01:19)
  3. O might those sighes and teares (03:00)
  4. Oh, to vex me (01:07)
  5. What if this present (02:48)
  6. Since she whom I loved (03:26)
  7. At the round earth's imagined corners (02:34)
  8. Thou hast made me (01:31)
  9. Death, be not proud (03:56)
In July, 1945, Benjamin Britten accompanied the violinist Yehudi Menuhin on a brief tour of defeated Germany. One day, the two men visited the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen, facing former inmates. Stupefied by what he had seen, Britten went home to the East Anglian coast and set to music poetry of the Holy Sonnets of John Donne. He composed nine songs at feverish speed, between August 2nd and August 19th.
Songs & Proverbs of William Blake, Op.74
Benjamin Britten, piano / Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone
December 1965
10. The Pride of the Peacock...London (03:07)
11. Prisons are built...The Chimney Sweeper (02:54)
12. The Bird anest...A Poison Tree (04:48)
13. Think in the morning...The Tyger (02:34)
14. The Tygers of wrath...The Fly (02:49)
15. The hours of folly...Ah, Sun Flower (04:16)
16. To see a world...Every night and every morn (03:26)
Billy Budd - Opera in 2 Acts, Op.50
Text by E.M.Forster & Eric Crozier
Benjamin Britten, conductor / London Symphony Orchestra
David Bowman, Baritone / Delme Bryn-Jones, Baritone / Eric Garrett, Baritone / Michael Langdon, Bass / Norman Lumsden, Bass / Owen Brannigan, bass / Peter Glossop, baritone
December 1967
17. I am an old man (05:02)
18. Pull, my bantams! (06:59)
19. Guard boat! Indomitable! (03:10)
20. First man forward! (02:25)
21. Your name? Billy Budd, sir (02:42)
22. Billy Budd, king of the birds! (02:34)
Disc 2
  Billy Budd - Opera in 2 Acts, Op.50 (suite)
 
1. I heard, your honour! (03:38)
  2. Come along kid! Come along! (03:37)
  3. Christ, the poor chap! (01:25)
  4. What's that? What's those whistles? (01:15)
  5. Starry Vere we call him (02:20)
  6. Boy! My compliments to Mr. Redburn (03:45)
  7. Gentlemen, the King! (05:32)
  8. Ay, at Spithead the men may have had their grievances (01:05)
  9. We are, sir. Claggart is an able one (06:52)
10. Blow, blow, blow (02:39)
11. We're off to Samoa by way of Genoa (03:38)
12. Hi! You a... a... a... (02:58)
13. Over the water...Handsomely done (06:48)
14. Come here. Remember your promise (04:43)
15. Billy! Hist! Billy Budd! (04:04)
16. Dansker, old friend, glad to see you (04:43)
Disc 3
  Billy Budd - Opera in 2 Acts, Op.50 (suite)
 
1. I don't like the look of the mist (02:16)
  2. With great regret I must disturb your honour (01:06)
  3. Deck ahoy! Enemy sail on starboard bow (03:23)
  4. Who'll volunteer to board 'em (07:47)
  5. There you are again, Master-at-arms (04:49)
  6. O this cursed mist (04:15)
  7. Claggart, John Claggart, beware! (03:32)
  8. Master-at-arms and foretopman (03:23)
  9. God o' mercy! Here, help me! (02:13)
10. Gentlemen, William Budd here has killed (01:33)
11. William Budd, you are accused by Captain Vere (05:32)
12. Poor fellow, who could save him? (04:22)
13. I accept their verdict (05:32)
14. Look! Through the port (05:35)
15. Here! Baby! Dansker, old friend (04:02)
16. And farewell to ye (04:35)
17. Interlude (03:06)
18. According to the articles of War (01:51)
19. Down all hands! And see that they do (02:21)
20. We committed his body to the deep (04:39)