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Alpha

Britten

$20.99

Details

Composer
Benjamin Britten
Artist
Julie Roset, Lawrence Foster, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
Format
CD
Label
Alpha
Released
May 22, 2026
Catalog #
ALPHA1226
UPC
3701624512265

About

This album pays tribute to composer Benjamin Britten, who will be commemorated in 2026, the 50th anniversary of his death. It was conceived by conductor Lawrence Foster who, with Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, showcases the British composer's impressionism tinged with post-Romanticism. The programme includes his sublime Illuminations, based on Rimbaud's poem, often performed by tenors but originally created by a soprano in 1940. Here, the young and very promising French soprano Julie Roset is the soloist, giving a very engaging performance. Another famous piece by Britten, Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, commissioned by the British Ministry of Education in 1945, is a set of variations on a theme by Purcell that showcases each family of instruments in the orchestra. Although the Sinfonia da requiem (1940) was commissioned by the Japanese government to celebrate the 2600th anniversary of the Mikado dynasty, Britten dedicated it to the memory of his parents. Finally, the Choral dances from Gloriana are taken from the opera-tribute to the Queen of England, who was crowned six days before the premiere on 8 June 1953.

Tracklist 28 tracks

  1. 1 Theme 02:02
    Track
    1
    Title
    Theme
    Duration
    02:02
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  2. 2 Variation A [The Flutes] 03:08
    Track
    2
    Title
    Variation A [The Flutes]
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  3. 3 Variation E [The Violins] 03:50
    Track
    3
    Title
    Variation E [The Violins]
    Duration
    03:50
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  4. 4 Variation I [The Harp] 00:50
    Track
    4
    Title
    Variation I [The Harp]
    Duration
    00:50
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  5. 5 Variation J [The Horns] 01:21
    Track
    5
    Title
    Variation J [The Horns]
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  6. 6 Variation L [The Trombones and Bass Tuba] 01:05
    Track
    6
    Title
    Variation L [The Trombones and Bass Tuba]
    Duration
    01:05
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  7. 7 Variation M [Percussions] 01:58
    Track
    7
    Title
    Variation M [Percussions]
    Duration
    01:58
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  8. 8 Fugue: Allegro molto 02:59
    Track
    8
    Title
    Fugue: Allegro molto
    Duration
    02:59
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  9. 9 No. 1. Fanfare 02:08
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 1. Fanfare
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Performer
    Julie Thyana Roset
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  10. 10 No. 2. Villes 02:34
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 2. Villes
    Duration
    02:34
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Performer
    Julie Thyana Roset
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  11. 11 No. 3a. Phrase 00:59
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 3a. Phrase
    Duration
    00:59
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Performer
    Julie Thyana Roset
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  12. 12 No. 3b. Antique 02:11
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 3b. Antique
    Duration
    02:11
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Performer
    Julie Thyana Roset
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  13. 13 No. 4. Royauté 01:41
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 4. Royauté
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Performer
    Julie Thyana Roset
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  14. 14 No. 5. Marine 01:02
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 5. Marine
    Duration
    01:02
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Performer
    Julie Thyana Roset
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  15. 15 No. 6. Interlude 02:24
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 6. Interlude
    Duration
    02:24
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Performer
    Julie Thyana Roset
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  16. 16 No. 7. Being Beauteous 04:22
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 7. Being Beauteous
    Duration
    04:22
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Performer
    Julie Thyana Roset
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  17. 17 No. 8. Parade 02:59
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 8. Parade
    Duration
    02:59
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Performer
    Julie Thyana Roset
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  18. 18 No. 9. Départ 02:32
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 9. Départ
    Duration
    02:32
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Performer
    Julie Thyana Roset
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  19. 19 III. Courtly Dance No. 1. March 00:49
    Track
    19
    Title
    III. Courtly Dance No. 1. March
    Duration
    00:49
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  20. 20 III. Courtly Dance No. 2. Coranto 01:32
    Track
    20
    Title
    III. Courtly Dance No. 2. Coranto
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  21. 21 III. Courtly Dance No. 3. Pavane 02:16
    Track
    21
    Title
    III. Courtly Dance No. 3. Pavane
    Duration
    02:16
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  22. 22 III. Courtly Dance No. 4. Morris Dance 01:15
    Track
    22
    Title
    III. Courtly Dance No. 4. Morris Dance
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  23. 23 III. Courtly Dance No. 5. Galliard 02:00
    Track
    23
    Title
    III. Courtly Dance No. 5. Galliard
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  24. 24 III. Courtly Dance No. 6. Lavolta 01:32
    Track
    24
    Title
    III. Courtly Dance No. 6. Lavolta
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  25. 25 III. Courtly Dance No. 7. March 00:57
    Track
    25
    Title
    III. Courtly Dance No. 7. March
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  26. 26 I. Lacrymosa 07:14
    Track
    26
    Title
    I. Lacrymosa
    Duration
    07:14
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  27. 27 II. Dies Irae 05:31
    Track
    27
    Title
    II. Dies Irae
    Duration
    05:31
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster
  28. 28 III. Requiem aeternam 05:25
    Track
    28
    Title
    III. Requiem aeternam
    Duration
    05:25
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
    Conductor
    Lawrence Foster