Three essential choral works by Benjamin Britten have been recorded by the Czech vocal ensemble of extraordinary qualities and scope – Martinů Voices conducted by its artistic director Lukáš Vasilek. With the album briefly entitled „Britten“ Martinů Voices add another recording to their catalogue of albums dedicated to diverse masters of choral composition. Dr Lucy Walker, British musicologist and Britten expert has contributed by liner notes to the album´s booklet and says: „Te Deum in C, A Ceremony of Carols and Hymn to St Cecilia occupy a special place in Britten’s oeuvre. Writing music for choirs of all shapes and sizes enabled Britten to carry out his long-term goal, i.e. to create music that would be ‘useful‘ or, in other words, that could serve his community and fulfil the democratic potential of choral singing. Each of the three works was intended for different forces: one for choir and organ, one for choir and harp, and one for unaccompanied choir. The compositions very well illustrate Britten’s ability to create an entirely different world with each new composition.“ 

On the present album, harpist Kateřina Englichová and organist Daniela Valtová Kosinová are featured as soloists. The recording was initiated by the producer and label owner Petr Ostrouchov: „I collaborated with Martinů Voices eight years ago on the concert performanceof the full film score Marketa Lazarova by the legedary Czech film composer Zdeněk Liška. Since then I am a keen admirer of Martinů Voices and Lukas Vasilek´s art and skills. Few years ago, I became a passionate fan of Britten´s music, for change. And because in Animal Music we release music that we love, everything fell into place and right after the last Christmas´ concert that Martinů Voices gave in Prague, presenting Britten´s choral works, I contacted Lukas with the recording proposal. Fortunately he shared my enthusiasm and soon after we found the studio dates. I am very happy that almost exactly one year from the first idea, we can present the album to the audiences“, says of the project the recording director Petr Ostrouchov.