Benjamin Britten Conducts Mozart, Britten, and Mendelssohn – First DVD Release DVD

UPC: 5060244550834

Product Features

• Title: Benjamin Britten Conducts Mozart, Britten, and Mendelssohn
• Conductor: Benjamin Britten
• Tenor: Peter Pears
• Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra
• Composers:
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
  • Benjamin Britten: Nocturne, Op. 60
  • Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 "Scottish" (Extracts)
• Recorded Performances:Format: DVD, NTSC, All Regions
  • Mozart's Symphony No. 40 and Britten's Nocturne: Fairfield Halls, Croydon, 20 December 1964
  • Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony (Extracts): Mallings, Snape, 5 June 1970
• Running Time: 70 minutes, 34 seconds
• Sound: Enhanced Mono
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3
• Label: ICA Classics
• Release Year: 2012

Overview

This ICA Classics Legacy DVD brings together historic performances conducted by Benjamin Britten, one of the most influential composers and conductors of the 20th century. The centerpiece of the DVD is Britten’s deeply personal interpretation of Mozart's Symphony No. 40, a work Britten famously adored and described as "the loveliest bit of music ever conceived." Britten's nuanced conducting brings out the delicate balance and emotional depth of this beloved symphony.

The DVD also features Britten conducting his own composition, Nocturne, Op. 60, with Peter Pears as the tenor soloist. This work is an evocative setting of English poetry for tenor, seven obbligato instruments, and strings, offering an intimate glimpse into Britten's artistry as both composer and conductor.

As a bonus, the DVD includes extracts from Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 "Scottish", performed by the English Chamber Orchestra. Although Britten was gravely ill at the time, his interpretation is filled with elegance and subtlety, making it a fascinating insight into his artistry.

Repertoire

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:

  • Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
  • Running Time: 25 minutes, 59 seconds

• Benjamin Britten:

  • Nocturne, Op. 60 (For tenor, seven obbligato instruments, and strings)
  • Running Time: 27 minutes, 19 seconds
  • Tenor: Peter Pears
  • Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra

• Bonus Feature:

  • Felix Mendelssohn:
    • Symphony No. 3 "Scottish" (Adagio & Scherzo) (Extracts)
    • Running Time: 14 minutes, 18 seconds

Interesting Facts

• This performance of Mozart's Symphony No. 40 was recorded at Fairfield Halls in Croydon, a venue known for its acoustic clarity, making it an ideal setting for chamber music and orchestral works.
• Peter Pears, Britten’s lifelong collaborator and close friend, gives an emotional and masterful performance in Britten’s Nocturne, capturing the rich imagery of the English poetry Britten set to music.
• The bonus footage of Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony was recorded in Snape Maltings, the home of the Aldeburgh Festival, which Britten co-founded. This location holds great significance in Britten’s musical legacy.

Publishers

• Label: ICA Classics
• Production: Licensed courtesy of BBC Worldwide
• Produced by: International Classical Artists Ltd

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