BBC Philharmonic & Edward Gardner • Britten: Cello Symphony / Symphonic Suite from 'Gloriana' / Four Sea Interlues from 'Peter Grimes' (CD)

Edward Gardner conducts the BBC Philharmonic with Paul Watkins as cello soloist in this new release of orchestral works by Britten. It is a unique collection, combining the popular ‘Four Sea Interludes’ from Peter Grimes with the Symphony for Cello and Orchestra and the rarely recorded Symphonic Suite from Gloriana. The ‘Four Sea Interludes’ need no introduction; Britten extracted them from the large-scale opera Peter Grimes for concert performances. The Symphony for Cello and Orchestra was Britten’s only substantial piece of absolute symphonic music. It was written for Rostropovich who gave the premiere in 1964 at the Moscow Conservatory. Gloriana was first performed at Covent Garden in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of HM the Queen. The work did not receive favourable reviews and was rarely revived in the composer’s lifetime. Britten did however produce the Orchestral Suite heard here for concert use. 

BBC Philharmonic
Yuri Torchinsky leader
Edward Gardner conductor
Robert Murray tenor
Paul Watkins cello