A Parable for Church Performance. Conducted by James Conlon, directed by Mario Martone. Adapted from the Japanese Noh drama Sumidagawa (Sumida River) by Juru Motomasa (1395-1413). This is the first of three church parables by Britten. The libretto by William Plomer was a translation from the original story into a mediaeval Christian setting. The work was premiered in 1964 in Suffolk and marked a new departure for Britten’s musical style. November this year marks the centenary of the British composer's birth. The performance is at the basilica S. Maria in Ara Coeli.