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Britten: Bridge Variations, Etc / Bedford, English Co
Naxos

Britten: Bridge Variations, Etc / Bedford, English Co

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Details

Composer
BRITTEN
Artist
London Sym Orch, Bedford
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Jun 21, 2005
Catalog #
8557200
UPC
747313220021

About





Two previous Britten CDs reviewed in these pages were rescued, as was this one, from the archives of the now defunct Collins Classics label. If you happen to have the original 1992 Collins disc, be advised that it and the current Naxos release are one and the same. If you don?t have it, the present CD offers an excellent opportunity to acquire two of Benjamin Britten?s most popular works? The Young Person?s Guide and the Frank Bridge Variations ?plus two other not-so-often-heard pieces in the composer?s most approachable style, all in fine performances, a splendid recording that sounds newly minted, and at budget cost.


Few, if any, of Britten?s works have enjoyed the exposure of his Young Person?s Guide to the Orchestra , commissioned in 1946 for an educational film intended for the ?edification and entertainment? of children. Like other works of its type?Saint-Saëns?s Carnival of the Animals and Prokofiev?s Peter and the Wolf ?Britten?s piece has been edifying and entertaining audiences of all age groups ever since.


The major offering here, the Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge , was Britten?s tribute to his teacher. Written in 1937, it was premiered by the Boyd Neel Orchestra that same year, and recorded by the same forces a year later. That recording has been transferred to CD by Pearl, and is still available, as is Britten?s own 1967 recording with the English Chamber Orchestra on Decca. Several more recent accounts have also been committed to disc, the most recent being a very impressive SACD release with the Scottish Ensemble on Linn Records. I don?t think it too far a stretch to say that Britten?s Frank Bridge Variations may well be the most important work in variations form to come from the pen of an English composer since Elgar?s Enigma Variations .


The Occasional Overture and Prelude and Fugue for 18-part string orchestra have received less attention on disc, though the former found a place in a Britten anthology recorded by Simon Rattle, and the latter in a collection of the composer?s works led by Ronald Thomas for Chandos.


The current Naxos release serves a meal well balanced between two of Britten?s enduring masterpieces and two lighter, palate-cleansing courses. If you don?t already have the Collins original, go for it.


FANFARE: Jerry Dubins

Tracklist 30 tracks

  1. 1 Occasional Overture 07:27
    Track
    1
    Title
    Occasional Overture
    Duration
    07:27
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  2. 2 Introduction and Theme 01:57
    Track
    2
    Title
    Introduction and Theme
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  3. 3 Variation 1: Adagio 02:00
    Track
    3
    Title
    Variation 1: Adagio
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  4. 4 Variation 2: March 01:09
    Track
    4
    Title
    Variation 2: March
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  5. 5 Variation 3: Romance 01:25
    Track
    5
    Title
    Variation 3: Romance
    Duration
    01:25
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  6. 6 Variation 4: Aria Italiana 01:18
    Track
    6
    Title
    Variation 4: Aria Italiana
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  7. 7 Variation 5: Bourree Classique 01:36
    Track
    7
    Title
    Variation 5: Bourree Classique
    Duration
    01:36
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  8. 8 Variation 6: Wiener Waltzer 02:48
    Track
    8
    Title
    Variation 6: Wiener Waltzer
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  9. 9 Variation 7: Moto Perpetuo 01:12
    Track
    9
    Title
    Variation 7: Moto Perpetuo
    Duration
    01:12
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  10. 10 Variation 8: Funeral March 03:32
    Track
    10
    Title
    Variation 8: Funeral March
    Duration
    03:32
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  11. 11 Variation 9: Chant 01:35
    Track
    11
    Title
    Variation 9: Chant
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  12. 12 Variation 10: Fugue and Finale 07:24
    Track
    12
    Title
    Variation 10: Fugue and Finale
    Duration
    07:24
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    English Chamber Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  13. 13 I. Prelude: Grave 03:49
    Track
    13
    Title
    I. Prelude: Grave
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  14. 14 II. Fugue: Allegro energico 03:24
    Track
    14
    Title
    II. Fugue: Allegro energico
    Duration
    03:24
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  15. 15 III. Coda: Grave come prima 02:37
    Track
    15
    Title
    III. Coda: Grave come prima
    Duration
    02:37
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  16. 16 Theme 02:03
    Track
    16
    Title
    Theme
    Duration
    02:03
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  17. 17 Variation A [The Flutes] 00:31
    Track
    17
    Title
    Variation A [The Flutes]
    Duration
    00:31
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  18. 18 Variation B [The Oboes] 00:59
    Track
    18
    Title
    Variation B [The Oboes]
    Duration
    00:59
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  19. 19 Variation C [The Clarinets] 00:39
    Track
    19
    Title
    Variation C [The Clarinets]
    Duration
    00:39
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  20. 20 Variation D [The Bassoons] 00:54
    Track
    20
    Title
    Variation D [The Bassoons]
    Duration
    00:54
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  21. 21 Variation E [The Violins] 00:39
    Track
    21
    Title
    Variation E [The Violins]
    Duration
    00:39
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  22. 22 Variation F [The Violas] 00:54
    Track
    22
    Title
    Variation F [The Violas]
    Duration
    00:54
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  23. 23 Variation G [The Cellos] 01:11
    Track
    23
    Title
    Variation G [The Cellos]
    Duration
    01:11
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  24. 24 Variation H [The Double Basses] 01:02
    Track
    24
    Title
    Variation H [The Double Basses]
    Duration
    01:02
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  25. 25 Variation I [The Harp] 00:48
    Track
    25
    Title
    Variation I [The Harp]
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  26. 26 Variation J [The Horns] 00:48
    Track
    26
    Title
    Variation J [The Horns]
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  27. 27 Variation K [The Trumpets] 00:32
    Track
    27
    Title
    Variation K [The Trumpets]
    Duration
    00:32
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  28. 28 Variation L [The Trombones and Bass Tuba] 00:59
    Track
    28
    Title
    Variation L [The Trombones and Bass Tuba]
    Duration
    00:59
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  29. 29 Variation M [Percussion] 01:55
    Track
    29
    Title
    Variation M [Percussion]
    Duration
    01:55
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford
  30. 30 Fugue 02:45
    Track
    30
    Title
    Fugue
    Duration
    02:45
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Steuart Bedford