Dive into the profound and captivating world of Benjamin Britten's "Billy Budd," a masterful opera that brings to life the timeless tale of innocence, betrayal, and tragedy at sea. Composed by the renowned Benjamin Britten with a libretto by E.M. Forster and Eric Crozier, this opera is based on Herman Melville's novella and offers a rich, dramatic experience that has captivated audiences since its inception.
Released on September 12, 2008, by Warner Classics, this recording spans an impressive 2 hours and 45 minutes, featuring 42 tracks that meticulously capture the essence of Britten's score. The opera is divided into two acts, each filled with powerful arias, choral pieces, and orchestral interludes that bring the story to life with stunning clarity and depth.
"Billy Budd" tells the story of a seraphic young sailor, Billy Budd, whose fall from grace is orchestrated by the satanic master-at-arms, John Claggart. The narrative unfolds under the watchful eye of Captain Vere, who grapples with the moral and legal implications of Billy's fate. Britten's music beautifully contrasts the innocence of Billy with the malevolence of Claggart, creating a tension that is both haunting and mesmerizing.
This recording is celebrated for its stunning performance and impressive production quality. It is often regarded as one of the finest interpretations of Britten's opera, showcasing the composer's genius and the exceptional talents of the singers and orchestra involved. Whether you are a seasoned opera enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, "Billy Budd" offers a rich and rewarding listening experience that highlights the enduring power of Britten's music.
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Prologue: "I Am an Old Man" (Vere)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Ian Bostridge, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 1: "Pull, My Bantams!" (First Mate, Sailors, Second Mate, Flint, Bosun, Midshipmen, Donald, Novice, Maintop, Squeak)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Adam Green, Andrew Kennedy, Andrew Tortise, Daniel Teadt, Darren Jeffery, Jonathan Lemalu, London Symphony Chorus, Mark Stone, St Luke's Youth Choir, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 1: "Boat Ahoy" (Maintop, Midshipmen, Flint, Redburn, Bosun, Ratcliffe, Claggart)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Andrew Staples, Gidon Saks, Jonathan Lemalu, Mark Stone, Matthew Rose, Neal Davies, St Luke's Youth Choir, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 1: "First Man Forward! (Claggart, Red Whiskers, Redburn, Flint, Jones)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Alasdair Elliott, Gidon Saks, Jonathan Lemalu, Neal Davies, Roderick Williams, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 1: "Your Name? Billy Budd, Sir" (Claggart, Billy, Redburn, Flint)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Gidon Saks, Jonathan Lemalu, Nathan Gunn, Neal Davies, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 1: "Billy Budd, King of the Birds!" (Billy, Sailors, Flint, Redburn, Ratcliffe, Claggart)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Gidon Saks, Jonathan Lemalu, London Symphony Chorus, Matthew Rose, Nathan Gunn, Neal Davies, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 1: "I Heard Your Honour!" (Claggart, Squeak, Novice's Friend)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Andrew Tortise, Gidon Saks, Roderick Williams, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 1: "Come Along Kid! Come Along!" (Novice's Friend, Novice, Sailors)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Andrew Kennedy, London Symphony Chorus, Roderick Williams, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 1: "Christ! The Poor Chap" (Billy, Dansker, Red Whiskers, Donald)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Alasdair Elliott, Daniel Teadt, Matthew Best, Nathan Gunn, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 1: "What's That? What's Those Whistles?" (Billy, Donald, Claggart, First Mate, Second Mate, Bosun)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Adam Green, Daniel Teadt, Darren Jeffery, Gidon Saks, Mark Stone, Nathan Gunn, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 1: "Starry Vere We Call Him" (Donald, Billy, Sailors, Red Whiskers, Dansker, Bosun)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Alasdair Elliott, Daniel Teadt, London Symphony Chorus, Mark Stone, Matthew Best, Nathan Gunn, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 2: "Boy! Yes Sir!" (Vere, Boy)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Hugo Shepherd, Ian Bostridge, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 2: "Mr Redburn and Mr Flint, Sir!" (Boy, Vere, Redburn, Flint)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Hugo Shepherd, Ian Bostridge, Jonathan Lemalu, Neal Davies, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 2: "Ay, at Spithead the Men May Have Had Their Grievances" (Vere)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Ian Bostridge, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 2: "We Are, Sir, Claggart Is an Able One" (Redburn, Vere, Flint, Sailors, Ratcliffe)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Ian Bostridge, Jonathan Lemalu, London Symphony Chorus, Matthew Rose, Neal Davies, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 3: "Blow Her Away, Blow Her to Hilo" (Red Whiskers, Sailors, Billy, Donald, Dansker)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Alasdair Elliott, Daniel Teadt, London Symphony Chorus, Matthew Best, Nathan Gunn, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 3: "Here, Lads! Here! Come Here!" (Donald, Red Whiskers, Sailors, Billy, Dansker)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Alasdair Elliott, Daniel Teadt, London Symphony Chorus, Matthew Best, Nathan Gunn, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 3: "Hi! You" (Billy, Dansker, Red Whiskers, Donald, Sailors, Squeak, Claggart, Boy)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Alasdair Elliott, Andrew Tortise, Daniel Teadt, Gidon Saks, Hugo Shepherd, London Symphony Chorus, Matthew Best, Nathan Gunn, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 3: "Over the Water, over the Ocean" (Sailors, Claggart)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Gidon Saks, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 3: "Come Here, Remember Your Promise" (Claggart, Novice)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Andrew Kennedy, Gidon Saks, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 3: "Billy! Hist! Billy Budd!" (Novice, Billy)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Andrew Kennedy, Nathan Gunn, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 1, Scene 3: "Dansker, Old Friend, Glad to See You!" (Billy, Dansker)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Matthew Best, Nathan Gunn, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 1: "I Don't Like the Look of the Mist" (Vere, Redburn)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Ian Bostridge, Neal Davies, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 1: "Well, What Is It, Master-at-Arms? " (Vere, Claggart)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Gidon Saks, Ian Bostridge, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 1: "Deck Ahoy! Enemy Sail on Starboard Bow!" (Maintop, Bosun, Flint, Redburn, Ratcliffe, Sailors, Vere)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Andrew Staples, Ian Bostridge, Jonathan Lemalu, London Symphony Chorus, Mark Stone, Matthew Rose, Neal Davies, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 1: "Volunteers! Call for Boarding Volunteers!" (Vere, Redburn, Donald, Red Whiskers, Dansker, Sailors, Billy, Maintop, Ratcliffe)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Alasdair Elliott, Andrew Staples, Daniel Teadt, Ian Bostridge, London Symphony Chorus, Matthew Best, Matthew Rose, Nathan Gunn, Neal Davies, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 1: "There You Are Again, Master-at-Arms" (Vere, Claggart, Boy)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Gidon Saks, Hugo Shepherd, Ian Bostridge, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 1: "O This Cursed Mist" (Vere, Redburn, Ratcliffe, Flint)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Ian Bostridge, Jonathan Lemalu, Matthew Rose, Neal Davies, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 2: "Claggart, John Claggart, Beware!" (Vere, Billy)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Ian Bostridge, Nathan Gunn, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 2: "Master-at-Arms and Foretopman" (Vere, Claggart, Billy)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Gidon Saks, Ian Bostridge, Nathan Gunn, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 2: "God o' Mercy!" (Vere, Boy)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Hugo Shepherd, Ian Bostridge, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 2: "Gentlemen, William Budd Here Has Killed" (Vere, Redburn, Flint, Ratcliffe)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Ian Bostridge, Jonathan Lemalu, Matthew Rose, Neal Davies, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 2: "William Budd, You Are Accused" (Redburn, Vere, Billy)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Ian Bostridge, Nathan Gunn, Neal Davies, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 2: "Poor Fellow, Who Could Save Him?" (Redburn, Flint, Ratcliffe, Vere)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Ian Bostridge, Jonathan Lemalu, Matthew Rose, Neal Davies, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 2: "I Accept Their Verdict" (Vere)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Ian Bostridge, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 3: "Look! Through the Port Comes the Moonshine Astray!" (Billy)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Nathan Gunn, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 3: "Here! Baby!" (Dansker, Billy)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Matthew Best, Nathan Gunn, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 3: "And Farewell to Ye, Old Rights o' Man!" (Billy)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Nathan Gunn, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 3: InterludeBenjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 4: "According to the Articles of War" (Redburn, Billy, Flint, Ratcliffe, Sailors)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Jonathan Lemalu, London Symphony Chorus, Matthew Rose, Nathan Gunn, Neal Davies, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Act 2, Scene 4: "Down All Hands!" (Redburn, Flint, Ratcliffe, a Sailor)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Jonathan Lemalu, London Symphony Chorus, Matthew Rose, Neal Davies, London Symphony Orchestra
Britten: Billy Budd, Op. 50, Epilogue: "We Committed his Body to the Deep" (Vere)Benjamin Britten, Daniel Harding, Ian Bostridge, London Symphony Orchestra
Benjamin Britten, born on St. Cecilia's Day in 1913, was a titan of 20th-century British music, renowned for his profound contributions to opera, choral works, and orchestral compositions. As a child prodigy, Britten began composing at the age of five, and his musical genius blossomed throughout his life, making him a central figure in British classical music. His operas, such as the haunting "Peter Grimes," are celebrated as some of the finest in the English language since Henry Purcell. Britten's "War Requiem," a powerful anti-war piece, remains one of his most enduring works. Beyond his compositions, Britten was also an exceptional pianist and conductor, leaving an indelible mark on the musical world. His legacy continues to inspire, with his works performed and cherished by audiences worldwide.
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Benjamin Britten
