Britten: Winter Words

Available for over a year

Britten composed Winter Words, his eight setting of Thomas Hardy, in 1953 at a time when he was also working on his operas Gloriana and The Turn of the Screw. The style of Winter Words does, however, contrast with that of the two operas in its austere textures, while allowing the Hardy texts to be projected with particular clarity. After the opening song, Day Close in November, comes Midnight on the Great Western, which even includes train-whistle noises. Then comes The Wagtail and Baby, The Little Old Table and The Choirmaster's burial (or The Tenor Man's Story), in which the departed master's favourite hymn-tune 'Mount Ephraim' is woven into the texture. Proud Songsters is followed by At the Railway Station, Upway (or The Convict and the Boy With the Violin), and the whole cycle ends with Before Life and After, a powerful expression of Britten's fascination with the conflict between innocence and experience. Recommended Recording: Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor); Graham Johnson (piano) Cypres CYP8607 Other Recommended Recordings: Below are other recordings that Kate also liked, although we can’t guarantee availability. Peter Pears (tenor); Benjamin Britten (piano) Decca 4756051 Robert Tear (tenor); Sir Philip Ledger (piano) Warner Classics 0151642 Philip Langridge (tenor); Steuart Bedford (piano) Naxos 8557201