Les Illuminations

This album is a tribute to composer Benjamin Britten, whose 50th anniversary of death will be commemorated in 2026. It was conceived by conductor Lawrence Foster, who together with the Monte Carlo Filharmonisch Orkest presents the impressionism of the British composer, characterized by post-romanticism. The program includes his work "Illuminations", which is based on a poem by Rimbaud and is often sung by tenors, but was originally composed in 1940 for soprano. Here the young and already very successful French soprano Julie Roset is heard as soloist, with a compelling interpretation.

Britten's "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" was written at the request of the British Ministry of Education in 1945 and is a series of variations on a theme by Purcell that lets each instrumental family in the orchestra be heard. Although the Sinfonia da Requiem (1940) was written at the request of the Japanese government to celebrate the 2600th anniversary of the Mikado dynasty, Britten dedicated it to the memory of his parents. Finally, the Choral Dances from "Gloriana" come from the opera that is dedicated to the Queen of England, who was crowned six days before the premiere on 2 June 1953.