Britten’s songs can scarcely be described as simple, particularly in terms of the psychological complexity and ambiguity of his many song cycles, of which Charm of Lullabies (1947) is the seventh. It was composed for the mezzo-soprano Nancy Evans, who had alternated with Kathleen Ferrier the title role of The Rape of Lucretia the previous year, and who also created the role of Nancy in 1947’s Albert Herring. The texts are all taken from A Book of Lullabies 1300-1900 and in their various ways suggest to the listener that you’re never too young to be told of life’s dangers.
