1. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 1. Introduction... Over hill, over dale 2. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 1. Oberon is passing... Ill met by moonlight 3. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 1. Well, go thy way 4. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 1. How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale?... I swear to thee, by Cupid's stronges 5. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 1. (Be it Lion, Bear or Wolf...) ...I love thee not 6. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 1. Welcome, wanderer!... I know a bank 7. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 1. Is all our company here? 8. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 1. Fair love, you faint with wand'ring in the wood 9. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 1. Through the forest have I gone 10. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 1. Stay, tho' thou kill me, sweet Demetrius... Lysander, if you live, good sire, awake 11. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 1. Come, now a roundel, and a fairy song 12. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 1. You spotted snakes 13. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 1. What thou seest when thou dost wake 14. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 2. Introduction 15. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 2. Are we all met?... What hempen homespuns have we swaggering here 16. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 2. I see their knavery... What angel wakes me 17. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 2. Be kind and courteous to this gentleman 18. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 2. Hail, mortal, hail! 19. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 2. I have a reas'nable good ear in music 20. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 2. How now, mad spirit... O why rebuke you him that loves you so?...What hast thou done
Disc 2
1. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 2. Flower of this purple dye... Why should you think that I should woo in scorn?... O H 2. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 2. Puppet? why so? 3. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 2. This is thy negligence... Thou see'st these lovers seek a place to fight 4. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 2. Up and down... Where art thou, proud Demetrius? 5. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 2. On the ground, sleep sound 6. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 1. Introduction... My gentle Robin, see'st thou this sweet sight?... My Oberon 7. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 1. Helena! - Hermia! - Demetrius! - Lysander! 8. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 1. When my cue comes, call me 9. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 1. Have you sent to Bottom's house? 10. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 2. Orchestral march... Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour 11. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 2. If we offend, it is with our good will 12. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 2. Gentle, perchance you wonder at this show 13. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 2. In this same Interlude, it doth befall 14. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 2. O grim-lock'd night 15. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 2. O Wall, full often hast thou heard my moans 16. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 2. You Ladies, you (whose gentle hearts do fear...) 17. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 2. This lanthorn doth the hornè Moon present... This is old Ninny's tomb 18. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 2. Sweet Moon, I thank thee for thy sunny beams 19. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 2. Come, your Bergomask 20. A Midsummer Night's Dream, opera, Op. 64: Act 3. Scene 2. Now the hungry lion roars... Through the house give glimmering light... Now
Disc 3
1. Phaedra, dramatic cantata for mezzo-soprano, string orchestra, percussion & harpsichord, Op. 93: In May, in brilliant Athens 2. Phaedra, dramatic cantata for mezzo-soprano, string orchestra, percussion & harpsichord, Op. 93: Oh Gods of wrath 3. Phaedra, dramatic cantata for mezzo-soprano, string orchestra, percussion & harpsichord, Op. 93: My time's too short; your highness 4. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 1. Scene 1. Rome is now ruled by the Etruscan upstart: Tarquinius Superbus 5. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 1. Scene 1. It is an axion among kings, to use a foreign threat to hide a local evil 6. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 1. Scene 1. Here the thirsty evening has drunk the wine of light 7. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 1. Scene 1. Who reaches heaven first is the best philosopher 8. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 1. Scene 1. Maria was unmasked at a masked ball 9. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 1. Scene 1. Collatinus is politically astute to choose a virtuous wife 10. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 1. Scene 1. There goes a happy man! 11. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 1. Scene 1. Tarquinius does not dare, when Tarquinius does not desire 12. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 1. Scene 1. My horse! My horse! / Interlude. Tarquinius does not wait for his servan 13. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 1. Scene 2. Their spinning-wheel unwinds dreams which desire has spun! 14. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 1. Scene 2. Listen! I heard a knock... How cruel men are to teach us love! 15. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 1. Scene 2. Time treads upon the hands of women 16. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 1. Scene 2. The oatmeal slippers of sleep creep through the city... Open, in the nam
Disc 4
1. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 2. Scene 1. The prosperity of the Etruscans was due to the richness of their native 2. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 2. Scene 1. She sleeps as a rose upon the night 3. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 2. Scene 1. Within this frail crucible of light 4. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 2. Scene 1. Lucretia! - What do you want? - You! 5. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 2. Interlude. Here in this scene you see virtue assailed by sin 6. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 2. Scene 2. Oh! What a lovely day! 7. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 2. Scene 2. We'll leave the orchids for Lucretia to arrange... Lucia, go send a mess 8. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 2. Scene 2. Flowers bring to every year the same perfection 9. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 2. Scene 2. You were right. Tarquinius took one of the horses... Where is Lucretia? 10. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 2. Scene 2. Lucretia! Lucretia! 11. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 2. Scene 2. Las night Tarquinius ravished me 12. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 2. Scene 2. This dead hand lets fall all that my heart held when full 13. The Rape of Lucretia, chamber opera, Op. 37: Act 2. Epilogue. Is it all?
Disc 5
1. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Prologue 2. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Theme. Scene 1. The Journey 3. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 1 / Scene 2. The Welcome 4. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 2 / Scene 3. The Letter 5. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 3 / Scene 4. The Tower 6. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 4 / Scene 5. The Window 7. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 5 / Scene 6. The Lesson 8. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 6 / Scene 7. The Lake 9. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 7 / Scene 8. At Night
Disc 6
1. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 8 / Scene 1. Colloquy and Soliloquy 2. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 9 / Scene 2. The Bells 3. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 10 / Scene 3. Miss Jesse! 4. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 11 / Scene 4. The Bedroom 5. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 12 / Scene 5. Quint 6. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 13 / Scene 6. The Piano 7. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 14 / Scene 7. Flora 8. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 15 / Scene 8. Miles
Disc 7
1. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 6. Naturally, Signore, I understand 2. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 6. Here I will stay, here dedicate my days to the sun / Scene 7. Beneath a dazzling sk 3. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 1. My mind beats on and no words come 4. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 1. Who's that? A foreigner, a traveller no doubt... Marvels unfold! 5. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 2. Hey there, hey there, you!... Ho! Here comes young Casanova... Greetings, Conte! 6. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 2. Serenissima, Serenissima - Low-lying clouds 7. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 2. Overture: Venice 8. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 3. Ah Serenissima! 9. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 3. Mysterious gondola 10. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 4. We are delighted to greet the Signore to our excellent hotel 11. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 4. Was I wrong to come 12. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 4. There is indeed in every artist's nature / Scene 5. The wind is from the West... Ah 13. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 5. (Children's games)... Adziù! Adziù! 14. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 6. Aou'! Stagando, aou!
Disc 8
1. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 7. First the race! 2. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 1. Scene 7. The boy, Tadzio, shall inspire me 3. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 7. So, it has come to this 4. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 8. Guardate, Signore! 5. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 9. Do I detect a scent? A sweetish medicinal cleanliness 6. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 9. Careful search now leads me to them... Ah, Tadzio, Eros, Ganymede... Gustav von Asc 7. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 10. This way for the players, Signori! Why are they disinfecting Venice? 8. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 10. Fiorir rose in mezzo al giasso... Ah, little Tadziù, we do not laugh like the othe 9. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 11. One moment, if you please... Young man, why do all these people hurry to leave? 10. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 11. In these last years, Asiatic cholerea has spread 11. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 12. So it is true, true, more fearful than I thought 12. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 13. Receive the stranger god - No! Reject the abyss 13. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 14. (The empty beach) ...Do what you will with me! 14. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 15. Yes, a very wise decision 15. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 16. Hurrah for the Piazza 16. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 16. Chaos, chaos and sickness 17. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 17. The wind still blows from the land 18. Death in Venice, opera, Op. 88: Act 2. Scene 17. (On the beach) ...Ah, no!
Disc 9
1. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 1. Prelude 2. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 2. The tournament 3. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 3. Recitative and fight 4. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 4. Entrance of the Queen 5. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 5. Recitative 6. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 6. The two lords' explanation 7. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 7. Raleigh's song 8. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 8. Ensemble of reconciliation 9. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 9. Recitative and final march 10. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 2. No. 1. Prelude and dialogue 11. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 2. No. 2. The Queen's song 12. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 2. No. 3. Cecil's song of government 13. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 2. No. 4. Recitative and Essex's entry 14. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 2. No. 5. First lute song 15. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 2. No. 6. Second lute song 16. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 2. No. 7. The first duet for the Queen and Essex 17. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 1. Scene 2. No. 8. Soliloquy and prayer 18. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 1. No. 1. Prelude and welcome 19. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 1. No. 2. The Masque 20. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 1. No. 3. Finale 21. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 2. No. 1. Prelude and song 22. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 2. No. 2. Duet 23. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 2. No. 3. Double duet 24. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 2. No. 4. Quartet
Disc 10
1. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 1. Pavane 2. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 2. Conversation 3. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 3. Galliard 4. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 4. Conversation and the Queen's entrance 5. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 5. Lavolta 6. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 6. Conversation 7. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 7. Morris dance 8. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 8. Recitative 9. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 9. The Queen's burlesque 10. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 10. Quartet 11. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 11. March 12. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 12. The Queen's announcement 13. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 13. Ensemble 14. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 2. Scene 3. No. 14. Coranto 15. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 1. No. 1. Prelude and chatter 16. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 1. No. 2. Essex's intrusion 17. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 1. No. 3. The second duet of the Queen and Essex 18. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 1. No. 4. The dressing-table song 19. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 1. No. 5. The entrance of Cecil 20. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 1. No. 6. Cecil's report 21. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 1. No. 7. Discussion 22. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 1. No. 8. The Queen's decision 23. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 2. Ballad - rondo 24. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 3. No. 1. Prelude and verdict 25. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 3. No. 2. Cecil's warning 26. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 3. No. 3. The Queen's dilemma 27. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 3. No. 4. Trio 28. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 3. No. 5. Lady Essex's pleading 29. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 3. No. 6. Penelope Rich's pleading 30. Gloriana, opera, Op. 53: Act 3. Scene 3. No. 7. Epilogue
Customer Reviews of This Album/CD
Lesser, indeed! Submitted on: 2007-11-14
How someone can refer to Rape of Lucretia and Turn of the Screw (or Midsummer Night's Dream, for that matter, my personal favorite among his many operas) as lesser works of Britten's is beyond me. I guess it is just a matter of taste, but especially in these performances, those who truly love Britten could hardly do wrong. Libretti lacking, but don't let that stop you. You never know when these will go out of print again!
Britten's lesser operas? Submitted on: 2007-05-29
Of course it's all a matter of taste. I find most of Britten's operas first class with no exception. 'Gloriana' is an under-recorded jewel, full of melody and emotion. 'Turn of the Screw' a masterpiece of claustrophobic sense. 'Rape of Lucretia' full of chamber sensibility. And the performances cannot be bettered.
Need I say more? DECCA is paying an enormous service to collectors with these releases, especially those who have a real concern with storage space. They deserve 10 stars, if available.
Britten's lesser operas Submitted on: 2007-05-12
I loved Britten's Operas 1. So I snatched this item up right away. It's o.k. but not as good as the first collection. Death in Venice and the Turn of the Screw were the only operas on these discs that I really cared for. Bedford's version of Death in Venice is every bit as good as the Hickox version so if you already have one there's really no need to get the other. As for the other operas they're nowhere near as good as Billy Budd, Peter Grimes, or Albert Herring. For those just discovering Britten's operas start out with the first boxed set.
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Lesser, indeed!
Britten's lesser operas