At Lunch, Britten Sinfonia

Five brilliant musicians explored Benjamin Britten’s relationship with two of his most illustrious composer friends. Copland’s ‘Vitebsk’ led the way with quarter-tone tuning and dazzling passagework. Shostakovich’s sumptuously plaintive ‘Elegy’ calmed the atmosphere a bit only for his ‘Polka’ to have us almost laughing. The revelation of this programme was Britten’s beautiful ‘Reflection’ op.1 for viola and piano, composed when he was 17, soon to be influenced by his older friends. It seems odd these days that his ‘Three Divertimenti’ were ever cold-shouldered, they’re so lovely. We were also introduced to Greenberg’s cerebral ‘Kandinskiana’. This cheerful programme felt quite Spring-like!

Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome, 9 February 2013

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