World premiere recording of the German version:

As the holidays draw near it is time for Claves Records to put on its Saint Nicolas costume. Together with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra; the Zurich Boys’ Choir and conductor Howard Griffiths; Claves is pleased to present Benjamin Britten’s (all too) rarely heard «Saint Nicolas» Cantata.

Composed for the centenary celebration of Lancing College; Sussex; in 1948 (St. Nicolas is the patron saint of children and the co-patron of Lancing College) and based on a text by Eric Croziers; the work traces in nine episodes the life of the saint born in Patara; an important Byzantine port in Turkey. It is a story filled with light that will appeal to the whole family; especially during the long winter evenings; one can even join in since Britten intended the work to be accessible to amateurs (with the exception of the solo tenor part and the lead strings and percussionist).

This world premiere recording of the German version featuring tenor Mark Tucker was made «live» at the Zurich Tonhalle on 14 and 15 December 2002 and is complemented by a more well-known orchestral work by the English composer: the Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge; an extraordinary portrait of the English musician who was Britten’s professor and mentor in a theme with… ten character traits!