This album is a tribute to the composer Benjamin Britten, the 50th anniversary of whose death will be commemorated in 2026. It was conceived by conductor Lawrence Foster, who, together with the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, presents the British composer's impressionism, which is characterized by post-romanticism. The program includes his work "Illuminations", which is based on a poem by Rimbaud and is often sung by tenors, but was originally composed for soprano in 1940. Here, the young and already very successful French soprano Julie Roset can be heard as the soloist, delivering a captivating performance.

Britten's "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" was commissioned by the British Ministry of Education in 1945 and is a series of variations on a theme by Purcell that showcase each instrumental family in the orchestra. Although the 'Sinfonia da Requiem' (1940) was commissioned by the Japanese government to celebrate the 2600th anniversary of the Mikado dynasty, Britten dedicated it to the memory of his parents. Finally, the Choral Dances from "Gloriana" come from the opera dedicated to the Queen of England, who was crowned six days before the premiere on June 2, 1953.

+The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra op. 34; Courty Dances aus Gloriana op. 53a; Sinfonia da Requiem op. 20