Laurence Kilsby, Christopher Parkes, Sinfonia of London, John Wilson - Britten: Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings (2026) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Concertino pastorale: I. Eclogue
02. Concertino pastorale: II. Threnody
03. Concertino pastorale: III. Toccata
04. Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op. 31: I. Prologue
05. Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op. 31: II. Pastoral
06. Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op. 31: III. Nocturne
07. Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op. 31: IV. Elegy
08. Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op. 31: V. Dirge
09. Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op. 31: VI. Hymn
10. Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op. 31: VII. Sonnet
11. Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, Op. 31: VIII. Epilogue
12. By the Tarn, Op. 15 No. 1
13. Sonata for String Orchestra: I. Allegro
14. Sonata for String Orchestra: II. Presto
15. Sonata for String Orchestra: III. Lento
16. Sonata for String Orchestra: IV. Allegro molto

For this third album of English music for strings, John Wilson and Sinfonia of London have built a fascinating programme featuring four composers whose lives and works were intertwined. The centrepiece of the programme is Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, performed here with Laurence Kilsby (tenor) and Christopher Parkes (horn). This early masterpiece was composed in 1943 for Peter Pears and Denis Brain. Following the success of the premiere, the same soloists went on to record the work twice: once in 1944 with the composer conducting, and again in 1953 with the New Symphony Orchestra of London conducted by Eugene Goossens. Goossens also conducted the first recordings of works by Ireland (Mai-Dun) and Walton (Violin Concerto), and was one of Britten's teachers at the Royal College of Music. Walton and Britten also became close friends, following the first Performance of Walton's The Bear at Britten's Aldeburgh Festival in 1967.