Britten - Matinées Musicales and Soirées Musicales

While not the most profound music Benjamin Britten ever wrote, the two suites based on music of Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) are some of the most enjoyable. As Andrew Porter's excellent album note describes:

The correspondence with Rossini goes beyond orchestral wizardry. Both composers are bewitching craftsmen: masters of the fleeting, expressive modulation, and of a springing font of melody. When called on to do so, both compose bright, felicitous, delicate, exquisite, high spirited music. It is not difficult to see why Rossini appealed to Britten. In these suites the intoxicating sparkle of both composers is offered to us.

The first suite - the Soirées Musicales was written in 1936, and consists of five movements (March, Canzonetta, Tirolese, Bolero and Tarantella), as does the second suite of 1941 - Matinées Musicales (March, Nocturne, Waltz, Pantomime and Moto perpetuo). In this 1958 recording, the second suite comes before the first on the record, maybe because afternoon comes before evening . . .

Robert Irving conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra. Irving was primarily known for ballet performances, and the most I've found about him online comes from a New York Times article on his death - he was the music director of the New York City Ballet for 31 years.

Cartridge: SAE 1000LT high output moving coil

Phono amp: Graham Slee Reflex M

Turntable: Kenwood KD7010 direct drive turntable

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