This video presents Benjamin Britten at the height of his powers in an affectionately nuanced account of Mozart's Symphony No. 40 ?EUR" "surely the loveliest bit of music ever conceived," according to Britten ?EUR" and an intimate and evocative performance of his own Nocturne with Peter Pears. As a bonus, the video includes extracts from Mendelssohn's "Scottish" Symphony which Britten conducts with the utmost subtlety and style despite being gravely ill at the time. All three performances give fascinating insights into one of the finest musicians of the twentieth century.
The ICA Classics Legacy series presents a collection of historical performances by some of the world's greatest artists. These performances are released on here for the first time, incorporating rare archive footage that has been expertly and lovingly restored.