CCMusic.com

In the thirty years since the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain were born, they have continued to blossom and flourish. New director Ben Parry was quick to notice they share their birthday in 2013 with Britten's centenary, and the result is this celebratory double album. Over the course of a year, Delphian has followed the various choirs on their courses, and for the first time all eight groups appear on disc: 600 singers and eight conductors in three different venues. The vast range of Britten's choral output encompasses work to match the character of each of the different choirs, from the fresh-faced eagerness of the Training Choirs to the maturity and sophistication of the elite National Youth Chamber Choir.