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Britten 100: Oxford Bach Choir - Poulenc, Britten

Nicholas Cleobury conducts the Oxford Bach Choir and English Chamber Orchestra in a concert exploring rarely heard music by Britten, including a world premiere, and Poulenc.

Recorded in the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford

Presented by Penny Gore

Nicholas Cleobury, the Oxford Bach Choir and English Chamber Orchestra join forces with soprano Elizabeth Atherton in a concert which explores some rarely heard Britten - including the premiere of a work only recently re-discovered.

Beethoven: Overture 'Coriolan'
Britten: Ballad of Heroes
Britten: Two Psalms (world premiere)
Britten: The Building of the House
Mahler arr. Britten: What the Wild Flowers Tell Me
Poulenc: Gloria

Elizabeth Atherton (soprano)
Oxford Bach Choir
English Chamber Orchestra
Nicholas Cleobury (conductor)

Launching 'Britten in Oxford' - a year-long celebration of the composer's music - Nicholas Cleobury, the Oxford Bach Choir and English Chamber Orchestra join forces with soprano Elizabeth Atherton in a concert which explores some rarely-heard choral works by Britten. These include his cantata Ballad of Heroes - composed in support of the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War, and The Building of the House - written to mark the opening of the Snape Maltings concert hall in 1967. Even more of a rarity is the world premiere of two recently-rediscovered psalm settings composed by Britten when he was still only in his late teens, but never performed. Completing the programme, music by two composers Britten admired: the second movement of Mahler's 3rd Symphony is performed in Britten's imaginative and witty re-orchestration for small orchestra, and the concert ends with the splendid Gloria by Britten's friend Francis Poulenc - a piece its composer described as 'a great choral symphony'.

2 hours

Last on

Sun 27 Jan 2013 14:00

Music Played

  • Britten Premieres - English Chamber Orchestra

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      Coriolan - overture Op.62

      Conductor: Nicholas Cleobury Performer: English Chamber Orchestra.

    • Benjamin Britten

      Ballad of heroes Op.14 for tenor/soprano, chorus and orchestra

      Conductor: Nicholas Cleobury Performer: Elizabeth Atherton Performer: English Chamber Orchestra. Performer: Oxford Bach Choir

    • Benjamin Britten

      The Building of the house - overture Op.79 for small orchestra (& chorus ad lib)

      Conductor: Nicholas Cleobury Performer: English Chamber Orchestra.

    • Gustav Mahler

      What the wild flowers tell me, arr. Britten for small orchestra [2nd mvt of Symphony no.3]

      Conductor: Nicholas Cleobury Performer: English Chamber Orchestra.

    • Francis Poulenc

      Gloria in G major for soprano, chorus and orchestra

      Conductor: Nicholas Cleobury Performer: Elizabeth Atherton Performer: English Chamber Orchestra. Performer: Oxford Bach Choir

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Coriolan - Overture Op.62

  • Benjamin Britten

    Ballad of Heroes Op.14

  • Benjamin Britten

    Two Psalms (1st Performance)

  • Benjamin Britten

    The Building of the House - Overture Op.79

  • Gustav Mahler & Benjamin Britten

    What the Wild Flowers tell me (arr Britten)

  • Francis Poulenc

    Gloria

  • Benjamin Britten

    Nocturnal after John Dowland

    • Lute Songs.
    • Hyperion.
    • 9 - 16.

Broadcast

  • Sun 27 Jan 2013 14:00