William plomer, based on the medieval noplay sumidagawa by juro motomasa conductor. Curlew river benjamin britten the ferryman romain bischoff regie cilia hogerzeil doelen ensemble conductor niels kuijers stage image lory caldarella costume designer ineke vink masks. Britten was born on 22nd november 19 in lowestoft in suffolk, the son of a dentist and a talented amateur musician. The curlews cry is the symbol of unrequited love in peter warlocks dolorous masterpiece, which sets poems by w. Nov 22, 2018 britten was strongly influenced by his trip to japan in the 1950s and his encounters there with noh theatre. The history of curlew river curlew river is the first in a series of church parables that britten composed in collaboration with librettist william plomer. Both britten and pears long admired percy graingers treatment of folksongs, and britten had met e j moeran soon after the older man had completed his collection of some 150 norfolk songs.
An authoritative and moving account of a fascinating work. Mar 16, 1984 the first of the three, curlew river, a oneact piece first presented in england in 1964, received its first new york performance in more than a decade on wednesday night. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. In 20 the world celebrates the centenary of the composer benjamin britten. Ian bostridge on britten, curlew river and singing the. Edward benjamin britten, baron britten of aldeburgh, om 191976 was a british composer, conductor, and pianist. Performing at barbican britten for three special performances, we capture. Cartwrights compositions are at once direct and mysterious, possessing a clarity and focus that show both ellington and ornette assimilated in a most unique way. Britten was strongly influenced by his trip to japan in the 1950s and his encounters there with noh theatre. This channel features videos about brittens life and work taken from the offici. Later britten remembered how, when moeran was living near norwich in the early 1930s, the two became warm friends in spite of their twentyyear age difference.
Listen to britten soundcloud is an audio platform that lets you listen to what you love and share the sounds you create perth. Heres another historic britten recording successfully transferred to cd, hopefully the two subsequent church parables will follow in due course. The abbot and his company of monks, acolytes, and instrumentalists walk, singing inprocession to the acting area. Two other church parables, the burning fiery furnace 1966 and the prodigal son 1968, followed. The youtube symphony orchestra 2011 performs young persons guide by benjamin britten at the grand finale concert. The work is an early example of parts tintinnabuli style, which he based on his reactions to early chant music. Rupert christiansen is stunned into silence by a faultless production of curlew river, benjamin brittens first church opera 5. Britten sinfonia voices summary benjamin britten and william plomers synthesis of a noh play and christian parable set in medieval east anglia is a unique and extraordinary work a piece shot through with the strange, exotic sounds of bells, untuned drums, organ and chamber ensemble. The first of the three, curlew river, a oneact piece first presented in england in 1964, received its first new york performance in more than a decade on wednesday night. Also, it was an inspired idea to relocate the action in east anglia, so one has the clash and intermingling of east and west with an immediacy that reflects the keenness of britten.
But curlew river was the first and the best, perhaps because it captured most completely the composers fascination with the japanese noh play on which it was based. Ian bostridge stars in brittens curlew river the new. Curlew river echoes the sounds of shamisen songs and the gagaku orchestra britten heard in the far east, while delivering a thoroughly christian tale about charity and the afterlife. Curlew river, which arrives at zellerbach hall next weekend, is a story of seeking and redemption, set to the music of benjamin britten. Benjamin britten britten conducts britten 2005, cd discogs.
Cantus in memoriam benjamin britten is a short canon in a minor, written in 1977 by the estonian composer arvo part, for string orchestra and bell. There is also a trad hornpipebarndance called the curlew hills and also goes by the name of the glenbeigh hornpipe. He was the youngest of four children, with a brother, robert 1907. The documentary includes interviews with sir peter pears filmed just months before his death for whom britten wrote the role of the madwoman, and john shirleyquirk, who played the ferryman in brittens original production of curlew river in 1964 at the aldeburgh festival. Curlew was formed in 1979 by george cartwright, the groups leader, saxophonist, and main composer.
Curlew river cd curlew river a parable for church performance composer. Oct 05, 2009 mark wilde as the madwoman in birmingham operas highly acclaimed production of benjamin britten s curlew river at the 2004 bbc proms. Edward benjamin britten, baron britten of aldeburgh, om ch 22 november 19 4 december 1976 was an english composer, conductor, and pianist. Charles richardson boy soprano, gidon saks bass, philip langridge tenor, simon. Benjamin britten curlew river christopher hossfeld.
The church parables curlew river, the burning fiery furnace and the prodigal son were premiered in st bartholomews in orford, at the festivals in 1964, 1966 and. Edward benjamin britten was an english composer, conductor and pianist. With english subtitles the librettos by william plomer. In 1991 the underdog inventor came second against the biggest and richest manufacturers in the world. Inspired by japanese noh theatre, benjamin brittens church parable, curlew river is a once heard, never forgotten work. Benjamin britten was born in lowestoft, suffolk, on the east coast of england, on 22 november 19. The joint production by cal performances, the barbican centre, lincoln center, and carolina performing arts is also a story of fulfillment for visionary british director netia jones, who was approached by the consortium of producers last year. Benjamin britten, peter pears john shirleyquirk curlew river. Feb 28, 2017 curlew river, finale of the lux aeterna festival, sweeps audiences into a fascinating, unknown world.
Cecilias day, at the family home in lowestoft, suffolk, england. They are all short chamber operas, about an hour long, with religious themes. A dual mono fieldrecording of an eurasian curlew numenius arquata. It was a long and boring journey that took nearly a month. List of compositions by benjamin britten wikipedia.
Archive collections the archive documents the whole of brittens exceptionally productive life. Jun 19, 20 the church parables curlew river, the burning fiery furnace and the prodigal son were premiered in st bartholomews in orford, at the festivals in 1964, 1966 and 1968 respectively, and it. Alexander when curlew river was first performed in the church at orford, near aldeburgh on june 1964, as part of the aldeburgh festival of that year, british critics were clearly more than a little taken aback. Curlew river, finale of the lux aeterna festival, sweeps audiences into a fascinating, unknown world. Backyard visionary documents the maverick motorcycle designer as he and his crew. Stream tracks and playlists from britten on your desktop or mobile device. Britten backyard visionary television nz on screen. Alexander when curlew river was first performed in the church at orford, near aldeburgh on june 1964, as part of the aldeburgh festival of that year, british critics were clearly more than a. He pursued his dream all the way to daytona international speedway in florida. Curlew river streams britten san francisco classical voice. Curlew river, britten in texas was broadcast across the us on pbs in 1986. Provided to youtube by universal music group britten. Although britten is particularly celebrated for the substantial body of music he composed for the tenor voice, the composer also left an important legacy of music for baritone. Mark wilde as the madwoman in birmingham operas highly acclaimed production of benjamin brittens curlew river at the 2004 bbc proms.
But curlew river was the first and the best, perhaps because itcaptured most completely the composers fascination with the japanese nobplay on which it was based. The monastic intensity of brittens nohinspired opera parable sung by a starry cast contrasted to great effect with the hurlyburly of the city erica jeal fri 15 nov 20 09. Nov 01, 2014 britten worked with the poet william plomer to develop an english version of the noh play. He began composing prolifically as a child, and in 1927 began private lessons with frank bridge. Curlew river is far from being an easy work to appreciate, but many years ago i played this performance in its previous incarnation on vinyl lp to some friends who were unfamiliar with both this work and with britten s music in general. Curlew river is far from being an easy work to appreciate, but many years ago i played this performance in its previous incarnation on vinyl lp to some friends who were unfamiliar with both this work and with brittens music in general. Motomasatranslations from the latin by john mason nealethe scene is set in a church by a fenland river in early medieval times. Benjamin brittens first of three church parables, a synthesis of japanese noh theatre and european music, portrays both buddhist world views and christian redemption beliefs. Curlew river is one of a series of three church parable. Curlew river takes place in a church by a river in the fenlands of england during medieval times. The choral music of benjamin britten hal leonard online. Cantate chamber singers honor britten with strong curlew river.
Sunday afternoon, all souls memorial episcopal church was the venue for a performance of curlew river, one of the three church parables britten wrote in the mid1960s, quirky and seldom. Abbot, monks, acolytes, and instrumentalistste lucis ante terminum, to thee before. May 25, 2012 originally composed by english composer benjamin britten as a part of his friday afternoons collection that he wrote for his pupils at the clive house school, cuckoo later. A parable for church performance southwest texas public broadcasting council william reber southwestern university, georgetown. Nov 15, 20 the monastic intensity of brittens nohinspired opera parable sung by a starry cast contrasted to great effect with the hurlyburly of the city erica jeal fri 15 nov 20 09. Britten worked with the poet william plomer to develop an english version of the noh play. Curlew riverbenjamin brittenlibretto by william plomerafter ju. With the church parable curlew river 1964, his conception of musical theatre took a new direction, combining influences from the japanese noh theatre and english medieval religious drama. The unbeatable, multiawardwinning partnership of gerald finley and julius drake turn to the composer benjamin britten for their latest hyperion release.
Nov 07, 2014 curlew river, which arrives at zellerbach hall next weekend, is a story of seeking and redemption, set to the music of benjamin britten. Inspired by japanese noh theatre, benjamin britten s church parable, curlew river is a once heard, never forgotten work. This channel features videos about britten s life and work taken from the offici. Although he was already composing vigorously as a child, he nonetheless felt the importance of some solid guidance and in 1928 turned to the composer frank bridge. Brittens greatest pieces, including the war requiem, the four sea interludes from peter grimes, curlew river and several of his operas.
The wealth of material includes music manuscripts of numerous pieces of juvenilia composed aged 518, and almost all mature compositions. Benjamin britten britten conducts britten iii the burning fiery furnace. Curlew river benjamin britten libretto by william plomer. The first of britten s three parables for church performance, the work is based on the japanese noh play sumidagawa sumida river of juro motomasa 951431, which britten saw during a visit to japan and the far east in early 1956. Nov 16, 20 britten sinfonia voices summary benjamin britten and william plomers synthesis of a noh play and christian parable set in medieval east anglia is a unique and extraordinary work a piece shot through with the strange, exotic sounds of bells, untuned drums, organ and chamber ensemble.
At the very beginning, the english horn utters the curlews song in rising sevenths. Originally composed by english composer benjamin britten as a part of his friday afternoons collection that he wrote for his pupils at the clive house school, cuckoo later. Benjamin britten 191976 curlew river, parabola da chiesa op. Warlock makes excellent use of his unusual accompanying ensemble of flute, english horn, and strings either as a quartet or orchestra. Curlew river by sir peter pears, john shirleyquirk. Keegan herself calls this tune the curlews and, if memory serves me right ill check when i get the chance its named not after the bird but the curlew hills. Mark wilde as the madwoman in birmingham operas highly acclaimed production of benjamin britten s curlew river at the 2004 bbc proms. The first of brittens three parables for church performance, the work is based on the japanese noh play sumidagawa sumida river of juro motomasa 951431, which britten saw during a visit to japan and the far east in early 1956.