Britten • Les illuminations Les illuminations Op. 18; Prelude & fugue for 18 strings, Op. 29 Variations on a theme by Frank Bridge, Op. 10 Now sleeps the crimson petal Les Violons du Roy - Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor Karina Gauvin, soprano ACD2 2601 • Following their recordings devoted to Piazzolla and to Bartók, Jean-Marie Zeitouni and the Violons du Roy now turn their attention to one of the dominant musical figures of 20th-century England, Benjamin Britten. • Britten was living in Amityville, Long Island, when he finished the song cycle Les Illuminations, based on poems and prose by Arthur Rimbaud. For this new recording of one of Britten's most effective works, soprano Karina Gauvin employs the full range of her expressive palette and great virtuosity. Ms. Gauvin also sings 'Now sleeps the crimson petal,' a poem by Alfred Tennyson set to horn accompaniment. • Also on this CD are two works for string orchestra: Prelude and Fugue, Op. 29, which Britten composed when he was 30, and the Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10, which he wrote in homage to one of the English composers he most admired. • Under the leadership of its first guest conductor Jean-Marie Zeitouni, since 2001 the orchestra has begun to explore 19th and 20th century repertoire in more depth. A pillar of the musical scene in Québec City since 1988 and well known throughout Canada and United States, Les Violons du Roy has made over a hundred concert appearances in Germany, England, Austria, Belgium, Ecuador, Spain, France, Morocco, Mexico, Norway, and the Netherlands. BENJAMIN BRITTEN (1913-1976)       LES ILLUMINATIONS, OP.18   1. I. Fanfare       1:54   2. II. Villes       2:39   3. IIIa. Phrase       l:00   4. IIIb. Antique       2:14   5. IV. Royauté       1:33   6. V. Marine       1:07   7. VI. Interlude       2:12   8. VII. Being Beauteous       3:57   9. VIII. Parade       2:47 10. IX. Départ       2:24 11. PRELUDE AND FUGUE FOR 18-PART STRING ORCHESTRA. OP. 29       9:03       PRÉLUDE ET FUGUE POUR 18 CORDES       VARIATIONS ON A THEME 0F FRANK BRIDGE, OP.10       VARIATIONS SUR UN THEME DE FRANK BRIDGE 12. Introduction and Theme       1:48 13. Variation 1 Adagio       2:04 14. Variation 2 March       1:07 15. Variation Romance       1:31 16. Variation 4 Aria Italiana       1:20 17. Variation 5 Bourrée Classique       1:70 18. Variation 6 Wiener Waltzer       2:33 19. Variation 7 Moto Perpetuo       1:06 20. Variation 8 Funeral March       3:50 21. Variation 9 Chant       1:38 22. Variation 10 Fugue and Finale       7:38 23. NOW SLEEPS THE CRIMSON PETAL       2:46 ATMA Classique is distributed in Australia by Rockian Trading PO Box 44, Briar Hill, Vic, 3088, Australia Telephone +61 (0)3 9432 4149 ~ Facsimile +61 (0)3 9444 6879