Les Illuminations; Serenade; Nocturne

Benjamin Britten composed two of the 20th century’s greatest song cycles: Les Illuminations, based on the enigmatic poetry of Rimbaud, and the magisterial Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings. I am less enthusiastic about the third song cycle, the Nocturne, but two out of three ain’t bad. Tenor Hill delivers all of the music solidly, with able support from Hickox & Co. A real discovery for those who don’t already know Britten’s vocal works. B