Britten Conducts Britten: Operas 1 (2004)

Benjamin Britten's recordings of his own operas are definitive -- cutting out the interpretive middle man and going straight to the heart of every bar, every scene. For sure, there are better sounding, and in many cases better sung, recordings to be had, especially of the popular works like Peter Grimes and Billy Budd; but none of them are as vivid, as immediately engaging, or as illuminative as these. As recorded by Britten, these are living, breathing dramas delivered with such complete understanding that you never miss ... Read More

Benjamin Britten's recordings of his own operas are definitive -- cutting out the interpretive middle man and going straight to the heart of every bar, every scene. For sure, there are better sounding, and in many cases better sung, recordings to be had, especially of the popular works like Peter Grimes and Billy Budd; but none of them are as vivid, as immediately engaging, or as illuminative as these. As recorded by Britten, these are living, breathing dramas delivered with such complete understanding that you never miss the sights of scenery and characters; they are right there, captured forever in sound. Volume one of Decca's Britten opera series includes both of the blockbusters mentioned above, the charming comedy Albert Herring, and the rarely heard television opera Owen Wingrave, all recorded between 1959 (Grimes) and 1971 (Wingrave). The compact, bare-bones presentation omits all of the supporting information, including the librettos and any background information, and even packs the end of... Read Less