Britten - Billy Budd

Britten - Billy Budd (Langridge, Croft, NY Met, Bedford, 1997) (320kbps .mp3)

Britten's psychological maritime drama Billy Budd is set on board HMS Indomitable at the close of the 18th century, a time of riotous mutinies amidst the Napoleonic Wars. Adapting a novella by Hermann Melville, Britten collaborated with librettists EM Forster and Eric Crozier in this ambiguous tale of good versus evil. In this archive production from the Met, baritone Dwayne Croft takes the title role of the pure-hearted sailor, the charismatic and handsome able seaman undone by his one fatal flaw. Tenor Philip Langridge plays Captain Vere, and in the role of Claggart, the malevolent Master at Arms, is bass-baritone James Morris. Steuart Bedford conducts the Met Orchestra and the men of the Met Chorus.


Presented by Mary Jo Heath, with commentary by Ira Siff.

Captain Vere: Philip Langridge
Billy Budd, Dwayne Croft
Claggart: James Morris
Dansker: Paul Plishka
Mr. Redburn: Victor Braun
Maintop: John Osborn
Bosun: Thomas Hammons
Mr. Flint: James Courtney
Lieutenant Ratcliffe: Julien Robbins
Donald: Kim Josephson
Red Whiskers: Robert Brubaker
Gunner’s Mate: John Russell
Cabin Boy: David Kessel

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Steuart Bedford, conductor
Performance recorded on March 8, 1997.
Broadcast: BBC Radio 3, 10 July 2021