number_six
2022-01-03 05:22:56 UTC
Britten - Works for Piano & Orchestra (Steven Osborne- piano - Volkov BBC Scottish Symphony Orch.) Hyperion
I acquired this for Steven Osborne who is at the top of my favorite living pianists list. He sounds superb in these works - no surprise to me.
It’s the music itself that I’m having a hard time enjoying completely. I’ve known for decades that Britten is very highly regarded in the UK. I’ve never really payed close attention to his compositions before. It’s hard to feel that his Piano Concerto, composed in 1940, comes anywhere close to the two concertos by Ravel who passed away only two years before. Britten seems somewhat contrived to me. It’s clever writing for sure, but not particularly endearing.
Are there any Benjamin Britten enthusiasts out here we can talk about the qualities they like and his music? Also is the piano concerto considered one of his better works?
Re Britten, I would count myself as neither enthusiast nor detractor. Some major works I've never connected with (War Requiem) and there are legions of 20th century composers whom i find more interesting.I acquired this for Steven Osborne who is at the top of my favorite living pianists list. He sounds superb in these works - no surprise to me.
It’s the music itself that I’m having a hard time enjoying completely. I’ve known for decades that Britten is very highly regarded in the UK. I’ve never really payed close attention to his compositions before. It’s hard to feel that his Piano Concerto, composed in 1940, comes anywhere close to the two concertos by Ravel who passed away only two years before. Britten seems somewhat contrived to me. It’s clever writing for sure, but not particularly endearing.
Are there any Benjamin Britten enthusiasts out here we can talk about the qualities they like and his music? Also is the piano concerto considered one of his better works?
Yet at his best (say, the Sea interludes from Grimes, or the song cycle Songs from the Chinese, to mention a couple) i find him nothing less than brilliant.
As to his pico, I agree he is no Ravel -- but I'll defer to the field as to whether it's considered top-drawer Britten.