Britten: Saint Nicolas A Cantanta Op.42; Hymn To Saint Cecilia Op.27
Britten's music enjoys more than respectable attention from performers and record companies, and enduring popularity with audiences primarily because of its accessibility, its functionality, and its congeniality. But accessibility and popularity don't mean simple, formulaic, or predictable. Britten's music is invariably original, and demanding of listeners as well as performers. A perfect embodiment of these aspects of Britten's style is the St. Nicolas antata, which tells the story of the fourth-century bishop by focusing on several events in his life. It combines several choirs, tenor solo, piano duet, organ, strings, and percussion--and a church complete with congregation to join in singing two hymns (an important feature missing from most recordings, but happily present on this one). This recording, which includes the a cappella masterpiece "Hymn to St. Cecilia," is a true celebration that captures the beauty, charm, drama, and full musical impact of two of Britten's finest scores.--David Vernier