Benjamin Britten conducting his own works is always an

experience. While many recordings of the “composer-asconductor”

are available, this new recording features a

program of works not previously available on CD.

That is valid particularly for the Symphonic Suite from

“Gloriana” as well as the rarely performed “Variations on

an Elizabethan Theme” – both are works inspired by the

music of earlier generations of English music - a rare and

interesting document of musical importance. Also

included are several smaller, but highly enjoyable

reworkings of earlier works from English’s Golden Age of

composers. All the recordings presented here are studio

recordings, except the Three Pieces for String Orchestra,

which is the only work that Britten recorded LIVE with the

RSO Stuttgart.