This is a remarkable
disc that offers a unique insight into
two of the greatest musicians of the
twentieth century. The DVD comprises
a rehearsal and a studio performance
of Britten’s Nocturne, with the
composer conducting the CBC Vancouver
Chamber Orchestra and Peter Pears singing.
Two bonus tracks are also included –
a CBC interview with Britten, and a
performance of two Elizabethan songs
by Pears and Julian Bream.
The disc opens with
the rehearsal of Nocturne, filmed
in 1962 - only four years after the
work was written and close on the heels
of the first performance of the War
Requiem. Here, Pears introduces
each song with a brief explanation of
its subject and meaning, including the
first few lines of the poem. This is
helpful for those who are not familiar
with the words, a knowledge of which
enhances understanding of the work as
a whole, how it hangs together and Britten’s
modus operandi. The camera then shifts
over to Britten conducting the rehearsal
before panning back to Pears. All of
this is completely live - one can see
Pears in the background waiting for
the right moment when the last bars
are fading away before recommencing
his commentary. The rehearsal is revelatory
in a number of ways – it is interesting
hearing the first few songs without
the voice (this leads to a greater appreciation
of the brilliance and ingenuity of Britten’s
score), and it is intriguing to have
rationales of why Britten composed the
score as he did – a minor example comes
in "Midnight’s bell goes ting,
ting, ting", when Britten asks
the strings to diminuendo more, explaining
that this is to let the muted horn sound
through.
The moment the actual
performance starts is, of course, a
goosebumps / shiver down the spine moment.
The sound is pretty awful – but that
is to be expected and can most certainly
be forgiven. Britten’s conducting is
mesmerising – he is extremely economical
in movement (some might say undemonstrative)
– no faffing about here, no over the
top, exaggerated gestures, no unnecessary
flamboyancy – rather his motions are
reserved and refined. And what results
he gets! One notes also that he makes
excellent use of his left hand. The
whole orchestra clearly holds him in
great regard – and he gives them the
respect and encouragement they deserve.
Pears, meanwhile, has complete control
and vocal command. He is deeply committed,
and very intense. Overall, it is a stunning
performance of a twentieth century classic.
The bonus tracks are
equally engaging. In the first, filmed
in 1959, Peter Pears sings Dowland’s
Fine Knacks for Ladies and Rosseter’s
What then is love but Mourning,
accompanied by a very young Julian Bream
on the lute. Interesting how he announces
the titles in both English and French
(for the Canadian broadcast). The performances
are outstanding and deeply engrossing
– particularly when one considers that
this repertoire was unfamiliar in the
late 1950’s. The second bonus track
presents Britten in 1968 talking to
a CBC interviewer about how he sees
his role as a composer. He explains
that his approach is always to write
for a person or occasion and that he
can’t write in a vacuum, isolated from
the rest of humanity in an ivory tower
and detached from the treatment and
reception of his works by musicians
and the general public. He speaks of
how the artist must struggle – that
great works come from labour and strife
and not from an easy life. Perhaps most
entertaining and beguiling are his thoughts
and views on the Beatles, also expressed
here ...
Despite poor quality
sound, this is an utterly fascinating
DVD. It is amazing to see Britten and
Pears at work together, and to watch
their interaction, musical understanding
and obvious empathy. Such documentaries
are invaluable for those of us of a
younger generation who never got to
see these great men live, and it is
a real shame that there isn’t more footage
of a similar nature available.
Em Marshall
Peter Pears (tenor) 
CBC
HOME VIDEO DVD 4277 [58.55] Bonus tracks [15.41]
also available as VAI 4277
