Britten - Billy Budd (live, ENO)

Britten 100: Billy Budd
Opera on 3

Presented by Tom Service.

Starting our broadcasts of all of Benjamin Britten's operas in this, his centenary year, is a new production of Billy Budd, recorded last year at the English National Opera in London. Director David Alden sets the events at the HMS Indomitable, based on Herman Melville's novella, in a claustrophobic and dark world where good and evil, innocence and betrayal clash with tragic consequences. Edward Gardner conducts a stellar cast, including the debut of Benedict Nelson in the title role, the ever pure and charismatic, but eventually doomed young sailor; Kim Begley as the tormented Captain Vere, seeking redemption from his moral dilemma, and Matthew Rose as the evil Master-at-Arms Claggart, who masterminds Billy's unfair downfall.

Billy Budd .... Benedict Nelson (baritone)
Captain Vere .... Kim Begley (tenor)
Claggart .... Matthew Rose (bass)
Mr Redburn .... Jonathan Summers (baritone)
Mr Flint .... Darren Jeffery (bass-baritone)
Lieutenant Ratcliffe .... Henry Waddington (baritone)
Red Whiskers .... Michael Colvin (tenor)
Donald .... Duncan Rock (baritone)
Dansker .... Gwynne Howell (bass)
Novice .... Nicky Spence (tenor)
Squeak .... Daniel Norman (tenor)
Bosun .... Andrew Rupp (bass)
The Novice's Friend .... Marcus Farnsworth (baritone)
First Mate .... Oliver Dunn (bass)
Second Mate .... Gerard Collett (bass)
Maintop .... Jonathan Stoughton (tenor)

Chorus and orchestra of English National Opera
Edward Gardner, conductor.


Plus:- A selection of images from the opera

Plus:- Britten: Billy Budd - Opera Guide
A guide to Britten's opera Billy Budd, featuring the voices of scholar Philip Reed, conductor Edward Gardner, director David Alden and singer Thomas Allen.
Duration: 11 minutes

Plus:- A discussion of Herman Melville’s ‘Billy Budd.’
D.H. Lawrence hailed Herman Melville's novella, Billy Budd, a masterpiece when it was first published in 1924. Then, in 1951, came Britten's opera, adapted from the book. The writers Philip Hoare and Jamila Gavin join Rana Mitter to explore the book's themes of good and evil, justice and the law and the actor Peter Marinker will be on hand to illustrate their remarks with readings from the book.
Producer: Zahid Warley.
Duration: 20 minutes


*** Note: This was a live BBC broadcast. In this torrent I have split the opera and the commentary into separate files ***