Britten "Spring Symphony" Eduard van Beinum

Spring Symphony, op. 44 by Benjamin Britten
Part I:
1. I Introduction: Shine out
2. II The merry cuckoo
3. III Spring
4. IV The driving boy (When as the rye)
5. V The morning star -
Part II:
6. VI Welcome Maids of Honour
7. VII Waters above
8. VIII Out on the lawn I lie in bed -
Part III:
9. IX When will my May come
10. X Fair and fair
11. XI Sound the flute -
Part IV: 1. XII Finae: London, to thee I do present
Joe Vincent, soprano
Kathleen Ferrier, contralto
Peter Pears, tenor
The Boy's Choir of St. Willibrorduskerk -
The Netherlands Radio Choir
Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Eduard van Beinum, conductor
Amsterdam, 09.VII.1949

[@anton7542]

Excellent

[@Twentythousandlps]

This was the first performance. Several weeks later Serge Koussevitzky, who had commissioned it, gave the first American performance in Tanglewood.

[@stephenhall3515]

Van Beinum was the right man for the prem of a big, complex work.
Such a pity that the audience was bronchitic and Ferrier's gluey voice and bad pitching spoiled it.