Shostakovich vs. Britten

[Lisztianwagner]

Voted for Shostakovich, I absolutely love his music (and moreover, I know Britten's one too little).

[Mirror Image]

Voted for Shostakovich, I absolutely love his music (and moreover, I know Britten's one too little).

Britten is well worth exploring, Ilaria. Since you seem to enjoy opera, Britten's operas are highly rated like Peter Grimes and Billy Budd to name two. Have you heard the War Requiem or Sinfonia da Requiem? These are two amazing works that I think you would enjoy in addition to the operas. The concerti, Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, and Diversions are several other favorites of mine.

[TheGSMoeller]

Britten is well worth exploring, Ilaria. Since you seem to enjoy opera, Britten's operas are highly rated like Peter Grimes and Billy Budd to name two. Have you heard the War Requiem or Sinfonia da Requiem? These are two amazing works that I think you would enjoy in addition to the operas. The concerti, Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, and Diversions are several other favorites of mine.

Agreed, John. These are all great pieces.

Ilaria, also listen to Britten's Death in Venice, written in his final years, I've tended to lately consider this Britten's best opera.

[Karl Henning]

Greg, do you know Curlew River? (Have I asked that afore?)

[TheGSMoeller]

Greg, do you know Curlew River? (Have I asked that afore?)

I posted it once in "Listening Now" thread and you commented on it. Very interesting piece, one that once you familiarize yourself with the overall structure it becomes even more interesting.
I think you said you studied the score?
What about Phaedra? That's another great mini-drama piece.

[Karl Henning]

Mm, Phaedra is a beauty, too.

[TheGSMoeller]

This is a tough poll, I find that most listeners here are familiar with more of DSCH's music, mainly because of DSCH's popularity in live performances and accessible recordings.
Britten's repertoire is as equally grand and impressive, perhaps because there is more vocal music than symphonic that there is a lack of knowledge to BB's expansive output.
With the exception of Symphonies (although his orchestral pieces are wonderful), BB pieces can match that of DSCH, yes they are very different in style and maybe BB had much less political/personal pressure and may have a resulted in a less dramatic punch than DSCH.

[Lisztianwagner]

Britten is well worth exploring, Ilaria. Since you seem to enjoy opera, Britten's operas are highly rated like Peter Grimes and Billy Budd to name two. Have you heard the War Requiem or Sinfonia da Requiem? These are two amazing works that I think you would enjoy in addition to the operas. The concerti, Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, and Diversions are several other favorites of mine.

Ilaria, also listen to Britten's Death in Venice, written in his final years, I've tended to lately consider this Britten's best opera.

Thank you for the advices, I will certainly try to explore Britten more deeply. Till now I listened to just a few of his compositions, but I find Britten's music quite interesting, original and rich of expressive power anyway. I've already listened to Peter Grimes, Sinfonia da Requiem, Simple Symphony and the Piano Concerto; now, to start a journey into Britten's music again, I may look for Death in Venice (which I've already heard about), War Requiem and Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge.
Any suggestion about the recordings?

[TheGSMoeller]

Thank you for the advices, I will certainly try to explore Britten more deeply. Till now I listened to just a few of his compositions, but I find Britten's music quite interesting, original and rich of expressive power anyway. I've already listened to Peter Grimes, Sinfonia da Requiem, Simple Symphony and the Piano Concerto; now, to start a journey into Britten's music again, I may look for Death in Venice (which I've already heard about), War Requiem and Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge.
Any suggestion about the recordings?

 



There are many recordings of Britten conducting his own pieces, and many of them are wonderful, but it's nice too branch out and discover some others interpretations. These are my favorite of the Frank Bridge, War Requiem and Death in Venice.

[Lisztianwagner]

 
There are many recordings of Britten conducting his own pieces, and many of them are wonderful, but it's nice too branch out and discover some others interpretations. These are my favorite of the Frank Bridge, War Requiem and Death in Venice.

They look excellent, thank you Greg!

[Mirror Image]

Thank you for the advices, I will certainly try to explore Britten more deeply. Till now I listened to just a few of his compositions, but I find Britten's music quite interesting, original and rich of expressive power anyway. I've already listened to Peter Grimes, Sinfonia da Requiem, Simple Symphony and the Piano Concerto; now, to start a journey into Britten's music again, I may look for Death in Venice (which I've already heard about), War Requiem and Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge.
Any suggestion about the recordings?

There are actually some very good Britten recordings available other than Britten's own recordings. I'm not familiar with Death in Venice, but I can warmly recommend these:

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[Lisztianwagner]

There are actually some very good Britten recordings available other than Britten's own recordings. I'm not familiar with Death in Venice, but I can warmly recommend these:

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Thanks John, both the recordings seem to be great I listened to Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge on youtube in the afternoon, really a stunning piece; now I'm listening to War Requiem

[Mirror Image]

Thanks John, both the recordings seem to be great I listened to Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge on youtube in the afternoon, really a stunning piece; now I'm listening to War Requiem

You're welcome, Ilaria. Glad you enjoyed what you have heard so far.

[Karl Henning]

That Steuart Bedford recording on Naxos is very nice.