Peter Pears sings... Britten. Serenade -&- Vaughan Williams. On Wenlock Edge - Decca 1944/1945

Benjamin Britten:  Serenade, op.31 - for Tenor, Horn & Strings
Peter Pears, Tenor - Dennis Brain, horn  - Boyd Neel String Orchestra  conducted by  Benjamin Britten    

Ralph Vaughan Williams:  "On Wenlock Edge"
Peter Pears, Tenor - Benjamin Britten, piano - Zorian String Quartet   
2 files zip FLAC  Mega Download
Decca  ECM 814   1982 Phonogram UK pressing. Matrices: ARL14309 -2G / ARL14308 -1A  (slightly superior to the 1979 '1A' LP - & superior to the 1986 LP: 417 183-1).   Recorded: 25 May/8 October 1944 -&- 2/3 July 1945 - West Hampstead Studios.  Very considerable waveform repair.....      
Sleeve-note / song texts / original 1945 "Serenade" 78's / 1979 HiFi News review >>>         Pears/Britten - HMV 1942-1950 >>>

Peter Pears & Benjamin Britten - HMV 1942-1950

Benjamin Britten:  Seven Sonnets of Michaelangelo, op.22    Recorded: 20 November 1942
Benjamin Britten:  The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, op.35    Recorded: 29 Aug./12 Dec.1947   
Benjamin Britten:  Five Folk Song arrangements    Recorded: 27 Aug.1947 & 29 Sept./15 Nov.1950   
Percy Grainger:  2 Songs    Recorded: 15 November 1950   
Aaron Copland:  5 Old American Songs    Recorded: 29/30 Sept.1950                                         
Franz Schubert:  "Im Fruhling"  /  "Auf der Bruck"    Recorded: 29 Sept./15 Nov.1950    
Henry Purcell (arr.Britten):  "The Queen's Epicedium"    Recorded: 30 August 1947
Henry Purcell:  Fantasia no.13 in F    (Benjamin Britten, viola -&- The Zorian String Quartet)    Recorded: 4 November 1946  
Peter Pears, Tenor -&- Benjamin Britten, piano                        8 files zip FLAC  Mega Download  
HMV  RLS 748  (2LP)   1980 pressings/matrices: 2XEA 6870-73 -1/-1/-1/-1    Transfers by Bryan Crimp (now substantially edited/repaired..)
Exceptional singing (especially the Sonnets / Epicedium). Aside from Schubert: 'Fruhling'  (muffled, as per the 78), these 78 transfers are mostly very vivid indeed.  
The 1952 Argo: Tippett / Mewton-Wood accompanied recordings are on  The Music Parlour       Sleeve-notes, Song-Texts / Full composition details + John Donne text >>>