Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

As stated elsewhere on this website, Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) is an acquired taste but those who enjoy his vocal music will appreciate this new recording of the Five Canticles. Here Britten is writing in a style not unlike his operas and the five pieces are almost miniature cantatas that should be assessed on their own merits rather than as one whole. As all are settings of religious texts this release deserves and rewards our full attention. Canticle I, Opus 40 (from 1947) is a setting of Francis Quarles' "My beloved is mine". Quarles was a follower of John Donne and this poem is a meditation on the joy of having a relationship with God, borrowing from The Song of Solomon - sometimes known as Canticles. Canticle II, Opus 51 (1952) tells the heart-rending story of Abraham and Isaac from the Book of Genesis, although here it is in the words of the Chester miracle play. Britten wrote this for his favourite tenor, Peter Pears, and the contralto Kathleen Ferrier but on this recording Ben Johnson is joined by the countertenor Christopher Ainslie. While Mr Ainslie does a fine job he is no Kathleen Ferrier and we are left wondering if perhaps a treble voice may have sounded better in the role. Canticle III, Opus 55 (1954) is a dazzling setting of Edith Sitwell's haunting "Still Falls the Rain - the Raids, 1940, Night and Dawn" one of this reviewer's favourite poems. As ever Britten finds exactly the right setting to allow us to hear and respond to the words of Sitwell's hard-hitting, religious reflection on the horrors of war. Canticle IV, Opus 87 (1971) is another of my favourite poems: T S Eliot's "The Journey of the Magi". Here the use of three voices, countertenor (Ainslie again), tenor, and baritone (Benedict Nelson) for the three Magi helps to make sense Eliot's subtle, elusive and allusive text. And it is Eliot who provides the words for our fifth and final Canticle (Opus 89 from 1974): "The Death of Saint Narcissus". Instead of the usual piano, the tenor is here accompanied by a harp (played by Lucy Wakeford on this recording) and the result is sublime. There have been other recordings of The Canticles but this is a worthy addition to the list. We applaud Ben Johnson for his fine singing and perceptive notes and James Baillieu for his piano accompaniment.

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