A Portrait of Britten

This generous programme of Britten's works encompasses the whole of the composer's distinguished career. The first disc centres around string works, and includes the Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge; Prelude and Fugue for 18-part strings as well as the perennial 'Young Persons' Guide'. The second disc features 'Sea Interludes' from Peter Grimes, an opera that has become legendary for re-establishing the credentials of English music-theatre. The final disc documents three superlative vocal works performed by the international tenor Jerry Hadley.