Opera `Billy Budd` (1951), op. 50 (Britten)

Benjamin Britten (1913–1976)


Opera `Billy Budd` (1951), op. 50

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An opera in four acts, op. 50
Text: E.M. Forster (1897-1970) and Eric Crozier (1914-1994), adapted from the story of Herman Melville (1819-1891) (German translation by Alfred H. Unger)
Revised:...Read more
An opera in four acts, op. 50
Text: E.M. Forster (1897-1970) and Eric Crozier (1914-1994), adapted from the story of Herman Melville (1819-1891) (German translation by Alfred H. Unger)
Revised: September 1960; reduced to two acts
First performance: 1 Dec 1951, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London (Benjamin Britten – conductor, Douglas Robinson - chorus master, Peter Pears - Captain Vere, Theodor Uppman - Billy Budd)
Duration: 152.0`
Commissioned: The Arts Council of Great Britain, for the Festival of Britain, 1951
Dedication: To George and Marion, December 1951

4 acts version (1951):
Prologue
Act I (duration: 35)
Scene 1: The main deck and quarter-deck of HMS Indomitable
(Deleted scene from original four act version)
Act II (duration: 45)
Scene 1: The Captains cabin
Scene 2: The berth-deck
Act III (duration: 46)
Scene 1: The main deck and quarter-deck
Scene 2: The Captains cabin
Act IV (duration: 26)
Scene 1: A bay of the upper gun-deck
Scene 2: The main deck and quarter-deck
Epilogue

2 act version (1960):
Prologue
Act I
Scene 1: The main deck and quarter-deck of HMS Indomitable
Scene 2: The Captains cabin
Scene 3: The berth-deck
Act II
Scene 1: The main deck and quarter-deck
Scene 2: The Captain`s cabin
Scene 3: A bay of the upper gun-deck
Scene 4: The main deck and quarter-deck
Epilogue

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Show records by: listenings count | performer's rating | alphabetical
Billy Budd - Peter Glossop, Captain Vere - Peter Pears, John Claggart - Michael Langdon, Mr. Redburn - John Shirley-Quirk, Mr. Flint - Bryan Drake, Mr. Ratcliffe - David Kelly, Red Whiskers - Gregory Dempsey, Donald - David Bowman, Dansker - Owen Brannigan, Novice - Robert Tear, Squeak - Robert Bowman, Bosun - Delme Bryn-Jones, First Mate - Eric Garrett, Second Mate - Norman Lumsden, Maintop - Nigel Rogers, Novice`s Friend - Benjamin Luxon, Cabin Boy - James Newby, Arthur Jones - James Coleby.
      (4)

14 December 2005, English National Opera (live). Simon Keenlyside, Timothy Robinson, John Tomlinson, Ashley Holland, Pavlo Hunka, Brindley Sherratt, Adrian Thompson, Gwynne Howell, Nicholas Folwell. ENO Orchestra and Chorus.
      (1)

Live - 21 June 1997 - Cardiff - Aria `Can`t shake hands... Farewell to Ye Old Rights O`Man`
      (0)
 
 

 
 
     

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