Britten the Performer
To celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Britten - on St Cecilia's Day - three programmes exploring the legacy of recordings he made for the BBC. Featuring familiar and less familiar repertoire, Britten's uniquely penetrating and idiosyncratic performances are discussed 20 years after his death by musicians who worked with him. On this special day for all musicians (St Cecilia has been the patron saint of musicians since the 16th century), this opening programme features a complete performance of Handel's Ode for St Cecilia's Day, with Peter Pears (tenor) and Heather Harper
(soprano) and the English Chamber Orchestra.
Producer Peter Thresh