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Delius: Hassan - Complete Incidental Music / Phillips, Britten Sinfonia
Chandos

Delius: Hassan - Complete Incidental Music / Phillips, Britten Sinfonia

Romantic Romantic Melancholic Serene Nostalgic
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Details

Composer
Frederick Delius
Artist
Zeb Soanes, Britten Sinfonia
Format
CD
Label
Chandos
Released
Apr 19, 2024
Catalog #
CHAN 20296
UPC
095115229620

About

Although he had initially declined the commission, Delius was persuaded to write the incidental music for Hassan by the actor and director Basil Dean in July 1920, for performances he was planning for His Majesty’s Theatre, London, the following year. Much of the music was drafted within a few weeks, and the score would eventually prove one of the greatest successes of Delius’s career. Dean’s plans for the project encountered significant obstacles and delays, however, and he had to commission additional music from Delius to cover the production’s complex scene changes. The London première eventually took place on 20 September 1923 and was a critical sensation.

Flecker’s play is a sinuous double-narrative that intertwines the twin stories of the lovelorn but worldly-wise Hassan, confectioner at the court of the cruel and vindictive Caliph Haroun al Rashid (called Haroun ar Rashid in Flecker’s play), and the young lovers Pervaneh and Rafi, caught up in the aftermath of a failed uprising and condemned to a terrifying and brutally protracted death. In tone and setting, Flecker’s text drew on nineteenth-century English translations of One Thousand and One Nights as well as other heavily fictionalized accounts and travel literature. Very much a product of the racial and class-based attitudes of its time, the play revels in imaginary scenes of a despotic Eastern court and its gruesomely barbaric practices.

Tracklist 50 tracks

  1. 1 Act I Scene 1: Prelude: Slow - Quietly but expressively 04:22
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Prelude: Slow - Quietly but expressively
    Duration
    04:22
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  2. 2 Act I Scene 1: We are in old Baghdad (Narrator) 02:29
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: We are in old Baghdad (Narrator)
    Duration
    02:29
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  3. 3 Act I Scene 1-2: Interlude 01:50
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I Scene 1-2: Interlude
    Duration
    01:50
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  4. 4 Act I Scene 1-2: Moonlight - The street of Felicity, by the fountain of the two pigeons, in from of the house 00:26
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I Scene 1-2: Moonlight - The street of Felicity, by the fountain of the two pigeons, in from of the house
    Duration
    00:26
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  5. 5 Act I Scene 1-2: It is later that night (Narrator) 00:57
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I Scene 1-2: It is later that night (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  6. 6 Act I Scene 2: Serenade: Con moto moderato 01:49
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: Serenade: Con moto moderato
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  7. 7 Act I Scene 1-2: The shutters open, and Yasmin appears (Narrator) 02:26
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act I Scene 1-2: The shutters open, and Yasmin appears (Narrator)
    Duration
    02:26
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  8. 8 Act I Scene 1-2: Melos: Hassan falls under the shadow of the fountain. The first light of dawn shines in the sky 00:52
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act I Scene 1-2: Melos: Hassan falls under the shadow of the fountain. The first light of dawn shines in the sky
    Duration
    00:52
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  9. 9 Act I Scene 1-2: Not too slow (Chorus) 02:08
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act I Scene 1-2: Not too slow (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia Voices, Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  10. 10 Act I Scene 1-2: The first light of dawn shines in the sky (Narrator) 01:27
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act I Scene 1-2: The first light of dawn shines in the sky (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  11. 11 Act II Scene 1: Prelude 00:50
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Prelude
    Duration
    00:50
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  12. 12 Act II Scene 1: The filthy, inanimate bulk of Hassan … (Narrator) 00:37
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: The filthy, inanimate bulk of Hassan … (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:37
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  13. 13 Act II Scene 1: Fanfare preceding the Ballet (Gaily, Outside) 00:08
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Fanfare preceding the Ballet (Gaily, Outside)
    Duration
    00:08
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  14. 14 Act II Scene 1: No. 1. Dance of the Beggars: There enters the most awful selection of Eastern beggars the eye could imagine 01:20
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: No. 1. Dance of the Beggars: There enters the most awful selection of Eastern beggars the eye could imagine
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Frederick Long
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia Voices, Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  15. 15 Act II Scene 1: And then, after the Beggars (Narrator) 00:06
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: And then, after the Beggars (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:06
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  16. 16 Act II Scene 1: No. 2. Chorus of Women: (Enter a band of fair and dusky beauties.) 02:22
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: No. 2. Chorus of Women: (Enter a band of fair and dusky beauties.)
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia Voices, Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  17. 17 Act II Scene 1: No. 3. Divertissement 02:27
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: No. 3. Divertissement
    Duration
    02:27
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  18. 18 Act II Scene 1: Rafi is then announced as the King of the Beggars (Narrator) 00:58
    Track
    18
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Rafi is then announced as the King of the Beggars (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  19. 19 Act II Scene 1: No. 4. General Dance 02:53
    Track
    19
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: No. 4. General Dance
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia Voices, Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  20. 20 Act II Scene 1: Rafi is asked why he hates the Caliph so (Narrator) 00:46
    Track
    20
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Rafi is asked why he hates the Caliph so (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:46
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  21. 21 Act II Scene 1: Chorus of Beggars and Dancing Girls: (from behind the scene, after the descent of the iron curtain) 01:21
    Track
    21
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Chorus of Beggars and Dancing Girls: (from behind the scene, after the descent of the iron curtain)
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia Voices, Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  22. 22 Act II Scene 1: This House of the Moving Walls… (Narrator) 00:50
    Track
    22
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: This House of the Moving Walls… (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:50
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  23. 23 Act II Scene 2: The Street of Felicity 00:38
    Track
    23
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: The Street of Felicity
    Duration
    00:38
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  24. 24 Act II Scene 2: The SOS message has fallen from the balcony … (Narrator) 01:11
    Track
    24
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: The SOS message has fallen from the balcony … (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:11
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  25. 25 Act II Scene 2: Music accompanying Ishak's poem 01:32
    Track
    25
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Music accompanying Ishak's poem
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  26. 26 Act II Scene 2: Yasmin's regard for Hassan has instantly shifted (Narrator) 00:39
    Track
    26
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Yasmin's regard for Hassan has instantly shifted (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:39
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  27. 27 Act III Scene 1: Prelude 01:33
    Track
    27
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: Prelude
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia Voices, Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  28. 28 Act III Scene 1: Curtain 00:43
    Track
    28
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: Curtain
    Duration
    00:43
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia Voices, Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  29. 29 Act III Scene 1: Hassan is installed at the Caliph's Palace (Narrator) 00:26
    Track
    29
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: Hassan is installed at the Caliph's Palace (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:26
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  30. 30 Act III Scene 1: Interlude 01:43
    Track
    30
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: Interlude
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  31. 31 Act III Scene 1: The slaves inform Hassan that there is a beautiful lady … (Narrator) 01:05
    Track
    31
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: The slaves inform Hassan that there is a beautiful lady … (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:05
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  32. 32 Act III Scene 2: The great Hall of the Palace 02:26
    Track
    32
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: The great Hall of the Palace
    Duration
    02:26
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  33. 33 Act III Scene 2: We are in the Great Hall of the Caliph's Palace (Narrator) 01:00
    Track
    33
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: We are in the Great Hall of the Caliph's Palace (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  34. 34 Act III Scene 2: Fanfares, in the great Hall of the Palace 00:11
    Track
    34
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Fanfares, in the great Hall of the Palace
    Duration
    00:11
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  35. 35 Act III Scene 2: As more and more people gather… (Narrator) 00:29
    Track
    35
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: As more and more people gather… (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:29
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  36. 36 Act III Scene 2: Entry of the Caliph 00:17
    Track
    36
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Entry of the Caliph
    Duration
    00:17
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  37. 37 Act III Scene 2: The Caliph declares the trial of the beggars open (Narrator) 00:09
    Track
    37
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: The Caliph declares the trial of the beggars open (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:09
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  38. 38 Act III Scene 2: Fanfares 00:21
    Track
    38
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Fanfares
    Duration
    00:21
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  39. 39 Act III Scene 2: Then Rafi, King of the Beggars, is summoned (Narrator) 01:17
    Track
    39
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Then Rafi, King of the Beggars, is summoned (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:17
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  40. 40 Act IV Scene 1: Prelude 04:14
    Track
    40
    Title
    Act IV Scene 1: Prelude
    Duration
    04:14
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  41. 41 Act IV Scene 1: In the Palace's dark vaults (Narrator) 00:26
    Track
    41
    Title
    Act IV Scene 1: In the Palace's dark vaults (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:26
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  42. 42 Act IV Scene 1-2: Interlude 01:57
    Track
    42
    Title
    Act IV Scene 1-2: Interlude
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  43. 43 Act IV Scene 2: Sunlight streams through the cell's grating (Narrator) 01:14
    Track
    43
    Title
    Act IV Scene 2: Sunlight streams through the cell's grating (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  44. 44 Act V Scene 1: Prelude: The Garden of the Caliph's Palace, in front of a pavilion - Enter the Caliph with attendants as Hassan comes from his Pavilion 02:29
    Track
    44
    Title
    Act V Scene 1: Prelude: The Garden of the Caliph's Palace, in front of a pavilion - Enter the Caliph with attendants as Hassan comes from his Pavilion
    Duration
    02:29
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia Voices, Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  45. 45 Act V Scene 1: The song of the Muezzin at sunset 01:08
    Track
    45
    Title
    Act V Scene 1: The song of the Muezzin at sunset
    Duration
    01:08
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Ruairi Bowen
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  46. 46 Act V Scene 1: With another sunset approaching (Narrator) 01:51
    Track
    46
    Title
    Act V Scene 1: With another sunset approaching (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  47. 47 Act V Scene 1: The Procession of Protracted Death 02:53
    Track
    47
    Title
    Act V Scene 1: The Procession of Protracted Death
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  48. 48 Act V Scene 1: The long, dreadful execution ensues … (Narrator) 01:29
    Track
    48
    Title
    Act V Scene 1: The long, dreadful execution ensues … (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:29
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Zeb Soanes
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  49. 49 Act V Scene 2: Prelude 03:03
    Track
    49
    Title
    Act V Scene 2: Prelude
    Duration
    03:03
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips
  50. 50 Act V Scene 2: Closing Scene: (The Caravan recedes farther and farther into the distance) 10:16
    Track
    50
    Title
    Act V Scene 2: Closing Scene: (The Caravan recedes farther and farther into the distance)
    Duration
    10:16
    Composer
    Frederick Delius
    Performer
    Ruairi Bowen
    Ensemble
    Britten Sinfonia Voices, Britten Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Jamie Phillips