Richard Rodney Bennett: Songs Before Sleep Sophie Daneman soprano ~ Susan Bickley mezzo-soprano Benjamin Hulett tenor ~ Roderick Williams baritone Oliver Coates cello ~ Iain Burnside piano NMC D155 Richard Rodney Bennett is renowned for his film scores and his jazz performance as much as for his challenging concert works.   His film music includes scores for Far from the Madding Crowd, Murder on the Orient Express and Four Weddings and a Funeral. Richard Rodney Bennett has long had a private passion for making collages (and knitting!) and the cover image on this CD is one of his creations, currently displayed at an exhibition of his work in Chelsea (2nd June to 10th September) Born in Broadstairs, Kent, in 1936, he has lived in New York City since 1979. Richard Rodney Bennett received a CBE in 1977, and was knighted in 1998. Bennett studied with Pierre Boulez in Paris. This new recording spans five decades of Bennett's song-writing, cherry-picking some of his most accessible and lyrical pieces, from the melodic Songs Before Sleep, performed by Roderick Williams, to the 1920s dance rhythms of A History of the Thé Dansant, the dramatic and rarely-performed Tom O'Bedlam's Song for tenor and cello (written for Peter Pears) and the enchanting A Garland for Marjory Fleming. A wonderful recording, stunningly performed by a collection of internationally acclaimed soloists.   1.-  5. A Garland for Marjory Fleming     9'47              Sophie Daneman soprano              Iain Burnside piano   6.-11. Songs before Sleep     15'24              Roderick Williams baritone              Iain Burnside piano 12.-14. A History of the Thé Dansant     9'10              Susan Bickley mezzo-soprano              Iain Burnside piano 14.-18. Dream-Songs     10'00              Susan Bickley mezzo-soprano              Iain Burnside piano 19. Tom O'Bedlam's Song     13'09        Benjamin Hulett tenor        Oliver Coates cello 20. this is the garden     4'04        Sophie Daneman soprano        Iain Burnside piano 21. Voyage     5'55        Susan Bickley mezzo-soprano        Iain Burnside piano 22. A Song at Evening     3'06        Sophie Daneman soprano        Iain Burnside piano NMC Recordings are distributed in Australia by Rockian Trading, P.O.Box 44, Briar Hill, Vic, 3088, Australia Telephone (03) 9432 4149 ~ Facsimile (03) 9444 6879