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Britten: Illuminations; Bridge variations, etc./Kofman 8/9

David Vernier

Artistic Quality:

Sound Quality:

Unfortunately, these perfectly decent performances are competing in a catalog rich with fine renditions of all three works, so the weaknesses stand out more boldly than they otherwise might. Of course, among those “fine renditions” are the classic and still unsurpassed performances by Britten himself as conductor (all on Decca), with tenor Peter Pears ravishing in Les Illuminations and the English Chamber Orchestra vibrant and gutsy in the Bridge Variations and both limber and full-bodied in the Simple Symphony. As for soprano versions of Les Illuminations, Felicity Lott’s stellar performance for Chandos is a winner–and there’s even an exact duplication of the present program issued in 1989 on Arabesque, with Elisabeth Söderström’s vocalism the weak spot between two fine performances of the orchestral works, again with the English Chamber Orchestra, this time led by Gilbert Levine.

As for Roman Kofman and his forces, overall the orchestra is tonally solid and able to make much of the drama in the Variations–but the passages requiring more precision and refinement of articulation, such as in many parts of the deceptively “simple” Symphony, are too loose and lack the amount of sheer spirit that it takes to “sell” this piece (just listen to how Britten does it, and you’ll see what I mean). Franziska Hirzel actually does a wonderful job with some very difficult music–and really makes us sit up and take notice when she floats that high B-flat in “Phrase”, allowing it to trail downward in a lovely little glissando. It’s beautiful, and her intensity and expressive range are truly first-class throughout–as is the orchestral work here. The performances are recorded with a noticeable resonance that somewhat buffs up the orchestra’s body, but we still hear the inner-voice detail along with generously full climaxes, and Hirzel’s almost mezzo-quality tone comes through in proper balance with the instruments.


Recording Details:

Reference Recording: Illuminations: Lott (Chandos), Pears/Britten (Decca), Symphony & Bridge Var.: Britten (Decca)

BENJAMIN BRITTEN - Les Illuminations Op. 18; Simple Symphony Op. 4; Frank Bridge Variations Op. 10

  • Record Label: MDG - 601 1275-2
  • Medium: CD

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