Album

Benjamin Britten's recordings of his own operas are definitive—cutting out the interpretive middle man and going straight to the heart of every bar, every scene. For sure, there are better sounding, and in many cases better sung, recordings to be had, especially of the popular works like Peter Grimes and Billy Budd; but none of them are as vivid, as immediately engaging, or as illuminative as these. As recorded by Britten, these are living, breathing dramas delivered with such complete understanding that you never miss the sights of scenery and characters; they are right there, captured forever in sound.

Volume one of Decca's Britten opera series includes both of the blockbusters mentioned above, the charming comedy Albert Herring, and the rarely heard television opera Owen Wingrave, all recorded between 1959 (Grimes) and 1971 (Wingrave). The compact, bare-bones presentation omits all of the supporting information, including the librettos and any background information, and even packs the end of Wingrave and the beginning of Billy Budd together onto one disc (note: this is the original two-act version of Billy Budd). The loss of the texts would be deadly if it weren't for the remarkable clarity of the singing; it is possible to listen to any of these performances from start to finish while hardly missing a word. As a result, you are free to engage fully with the music while the text is laid in your lap. It's a giddy experience that might recalibrate your expectations of singers who all too often let the demands of music obscure the words. Not every moment is beautifully sung, and listeners who put a premium on that might prefer to find other recordings (although there aren't many choices for Wingrave and Albert Herring). But anyone looking to acquaint themselves with Britten's unique fusion of music and drama should start here with no reservations.

© Allen Schrott, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 8
Benjamin Britten Composer Albert Herring, Op.39 (chamber opera)...Act 1 Work Recorded 1964 52:59 Anne Pashley Voice, Stephen Terry Voice, Owen Brannigan Voice, Sylvia Fisher Voice, Catherine Wilson Voice, Johanna Peters Voice, Peter Pears Tenor, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Sheila Rex Voice, Sheila Amit Voice, April Cantelo Voice, Edgar Evans Voice, English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Joseph Ward Voice, John Noble Voice
1	1.Sc.1: Flor-ence!... Tell the Midwife!	1:55			$0.49
2	2.Sc.1: Doctor Jessop's Midwife... Mustn't Touch Illegitimates	2:16			$0.99
3	3.Sc.1: I Hope We're Not Too Early, Florence?	2:30			$0.99
4	4.Sc.1: Stuffy! Tobacco Stink!	2:42			$0.99
5	5.Sc.1: Now Then! Notebook, Florence!	2:46			$0.99
6	6.Sc.1: The First Suggestion On My List is a Charming Local Girl	4:35			$0.99
7	7.Sc.1: Is This All You Can Bring? Each Single Name Reeking Impurities	2:58			$0.99
8	8.Sc.1: Beggin' Your Pardon	6:12			$0.99
9	9.Sc.1: Herring! Right! We'll Have Him! May King!	3:03			$0.99
10	10.Interlude	3:12			$0.99
11	11.Sc.2: Bounce Me High, Bounce Me Low, Bounce Me Up To Jericho!	2:30			$0.99
12	12.Sc.2: Shop! Hi! Albert!	2:16			$0.99
13	13.Sc.2: Tickling a Trout, Poaching a Hare, Fighting Wild Geese is Pretty Good Sport	3:01			$0.99
14	14.Sc.2: Meet Me at a Quarter Past Eight	3:03			$0.99
15	15.Sc.2: He's Much Too Busy Even to Listen Much Less to Care With Nancy There	3:35			$0.99
16	16.Sc.2: Good Morning, Young Man	1:34			$0.49
17	17.Sc.2: We Bring Great News to You	4:51			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Albert Herring, Op.39 (chamber opera)...Act 2 Work Recorded 1964 54:57 Anne Pashley Voice, Stephen Terry Voice, Owen Brannigan Voice, Sylvia Fisher Voice, Catherine Wilson Voice, Johanna Peters Voice, Peter Pears Tenor, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Sheila Rex Voice, Sheila Amit Voice, April Cantelo Voice, Edgar Evans Voice, English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Joseph Ward Voice, John Noble Voice
18	1.Sc.1: Isn't He Here?	2:17			$0.99
19	2.Sc.1: For Three Precious Weeks We've Been Toiling, Scraping	3:32			$0.99
20	3.Sc.1: Quickly, Quickly, Come Along!	4:48			$0.99
21	4.Sc.1: Here They Are, Dears!	2:26			$0.99
22	5.Sc.1: My Flowers Are Few	2:35			$0.99

CD 2 of 8
1	6.Sc.1: I'm Full of Happiness to be Here in Your Midst on Such a Day as This	3:30			$0.99
2	7.Sc.1: As Representing the Local Council	1:47			$0.49
3	8.Sc.1: My Heart Leaps Up With Joy to See Virtue and Simplicity	1:58			$0.49
4	9.Sc.1: Er-humph! Er-humph! I'm No Great Shakes as a Speechifier	2:39			$0.99
5	10.Sc.1: Well Tried, Albert!	3:07			$0.99
6	11.Interlude	6:54			$0.99
7	12.Sc.2: Albert The Good! Long May He Reign	7:26			$1.49
8	13.Sc.2: You Oughtn't to Whistle! I Told You That, Sid!	4:00			$0.99
9	14.Sc.2: Heaven Helps those Who Help Themselves!	7:58			$1.49
Benjamin Britten Composer Albert Herring, Op.39 (chamber opera)...Act 3 Work Recorded 1964 29:25 Anne Pashley Voice, Stephen Terry Voice, Owen Brannigan Voice, Sylvia Fisher Voice, Catherine Wilson Voice, Johanna Peters Voice, Peter Pears Tenor, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Sheila Rex Voice, Sheila Amit Voice, April Cantelo Voice, Edgar Evans Voice, English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Joseph Ward Voice, John Noble Voice
10	1.Introduction	2:19			$0.99
11	2.Is She Asleep?	3:32			$0.99
12	3.I'm Hungry, I'm Tired, I'm Sick of The Sound of Albert!	1:19			$0.49
13	4.Give Me a Decent Murder With a Corpse!	1:09			$0.49
14	5.Have You Found Him?	4:42			$0.99
15	6.Fools! Fools! Blundering Fools!	2:21			$0.99
16	7.In the Midst of Life is Death	4:22			$0.99
17	8.Albert...!	0:40			$0.49
18	9.I'm Sorry About That	2:12			$0.99
19	10.I Can't Remember Everything	6:10			$0.99
20	11.Albert's Come Back to Stay	0:39			$0.49
CD 3 of 8
Benjamin Britten Composer Owen Wingrave, Op.85 (opera)...Act 1 Work Recorded 1970 1:03:04 Benjamin Luxon Baritone, Nigel Douglas Voice, Heather Harper Voice, Sylvia Fisher Voice, Peter Pears Tenor, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Jennifer Vyvyan Voice, Dame Janet Baker Mezzo-Soprano, English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, John Shirley-Quirk Voice, Wandsworth School Boys' Choir Chorus/Choir
1	1.Prelude	2:59			$0.99
2	2.You've Got Your Maps There?	12:36			$1.99
3	3.At Last it's Out	6:19			$0.99
4	4.Your Sherry, Mrs. Coyle	11:23			$1.99
5	5.Oh, How Unforeseen	10:24			$1.99
6	6.Sirrah! How Dare You!	4:02			$0.99
7	7.Coyle, I Wish I Had Not Come	7:00			$1.49
8	8.May God Bless the Queen, and this House	8:21			$1.49
CD 4 of 8
Benjamin Britten Composer Owen Wingrave, Op.85 (opera)...Act 2 Work Recorded 1970 42:24 Benjamin Luxon Baritone, Nigel Douglas Voice, Heather Harper Voice, Sylvia Fisher Voice, Peter Pears Tenor, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Jennifer Vyvyan Voice, Dame Janet Baker Mezzo-Soprano, English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, John Shirley-Quirk Voice, Wandsworth School Boys' Choir Chorus/Choir
1	1.Prologue: There was a Boy, a Wingrave Born; 2.They Called for Him to Toll the Bell	6:53			$0.99
2	3.I Envy You this Fine Old House	2:36			$0.99
3	4.Paramore Shall Welcome Woe!	7:03			$1.49
4	5.And With His Friend Young Lechmere Played	4:37			$0.99
5	6.Now You May Save Your Scornful Looks	5:37			$0.99
6	7.Ah, Owen, What Shall I Do?	7:40			$1.49
7	8.Is that You, Coyle?	2:58			$0.99
8	9.Ah, Owen, Owen, You've Gone!	5:00			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Billy Budd, Op.50 (opera)...Act 1 Work Recorded 1967 1:21:50 Peter Glossop Voice, Norman Lumsden Voice, Peter Pears Tenor, Owen Brannigan Voice, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, James Newby Voice, Nigel Rogers Voice, David Read Voice, Bryan Drake Voice, Geoffrey Coleby Voice, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Benjamin Luxon Baritone, John Shirley-Quirk Voice, Ambrosian Opera Chorus Chorus/Choir, Delme Bryn-Jones Voice, Russell Burgess Children's Choirmaster, Robert Tear Voice, Eric Garrett Voice, Henry Bush Voice, John McCarthy Chorus/Choir Director, Michael Langdon Voice
9	1.Prologue. I am an Old Man Who has Experienced Much	5:03			$0.99
10	2.Sc.1: Pull, My Bantams! Pull, My Sparrow-Legs!	6:59			$0.99
11	3.Sc.1: Guard Boat! Indomitable!	3:16			$0.99
12	4.Sc.1: First Man Forward!	2:24			$0.99
13	5.Sc.1: Your Name? Billy Budd, Sir	2:41			$0.99
14	6.Sc.1: Billy Budd, King of the Birds!	2:34			$0.99

CD 5 of 8
1	7.Sc.1: I Heard, Your Honour!	3:37			$0.99
2	8.Sc.1: Come Along, Kid!	3:37			$0.99
3	9.Sc.1: Christ! The Poor Chap, the Poor Little Runt!	1:25			$0.49
4	10.Sc.1: What's That? What's Those Whistles?	1:14			$0.49
5	11.Sc.1: Starry Vere, We Call Him, Starry Vere!	2:19			$0.99
6	12.Sc.2: Boy! Yes, Sir!	3:45			$0.99
7	13.Sc.2: Gentlemen, the King!	5:31			$0.99
8	14.Sc.2: Ay, at Spithead	1:05			$0.49
9	15.Sc.2: We are, Sir. Claggart is an Able One	6:51			$0.99
10	16.Sc.3: Blow Her Away, Blow Her to Hilo, Riley	2:38			$0.99
11	17.Sc.3: We're Off to Samoa	3:37			$0.99
12	18.Sc.3: Hi! You... a... a...!	2:58			$0.99
13	19.Sc.3: Ove'r the Water. Handsomely Done, My Lad	6:47			$0.99
14	20.Sc.3: Here, Lads! Here! Come Here!	4:42			$0.99
15	21.Sc.3: Billy! Hsst! Billy Budd!	4:04			$0.99
16	22.Sc.3: Dansker, Old Friend, Glad to See You!	4:43			$0.99
CD 6 of 8
Benjamin Britten Composer Billy Budd, Op.50 (opera)...Act 2 Work Recorded 1967 1:15:40 Peter Glossop Voice, Norman Lumsden Voice, Peter Pears Tenor, Owen Brannigan Voice, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, James Newby Voice, Nigel Rogers Voice, David Read Voice, Bryan Drake Voice, Geoffrey Coleby Voice, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Benjamin Luxon Baritone, John Shirley-Quirk Voice, Ambrosian Opera Chorus Chorus/Choir, Delme Bryn-Jones Voice, Russell Burgess Children's Choirmaster, Robert Tear Voice, Eric Garrett Voice, Henry Bush Voice, John McCarthy Chorus/Choir Director, Michael Langdon Voice
1	1.Sc.1: I Don't Like the Look of the Mist	2:16			$0.99
2	2.Sc.1: With Great Regret I Must Disturb Your Honour	1:06			$0.49
3	3.Sc.1: Deck Ahoy! Enemy Sail on Starboard Bow!	3:23			$0.99
4	4.Sc.1: Who'll Volunteer to Board 'em in the Smoke?	7:46			$1.49
5	5.Sc.1: There You Are Again, Master-at-Arms	4:48			$0.99
6	6.Sc.1: O This Cursèd Mist!	4:14			$0.99
7	7.Sc.2: Claggart, John Claggart, Beware!	3:31			$0.99
8	8.Sc.2: Master-at-Arms and Foretopman, I Speak to You Both	3:22			$0.99
9	9.Sc.2: God O' Mercy!	2:12			$0.99
10	10.Sc.2: Gentlemen, William Budd Here has Killed the Master-at-Arms	1:33			$0.49
11	11.Sc.2: William Budd, You are Accused	5:32			$0.99
12	12.Sc.2: Poor Fellow, Who Could Save Him?	4:21			$0.99
13	13.Sc.2: I Accept Their Verdict	5:31			$0.99
14	14.Sc.3: Look! Through the Port Comes the Moon-Shine Astray!; 15.Sc.3: Here! Baby!; 16.Sc.3: And Farewell to Ye, Old Rights O Man!	5:35			$0.99
15	15.Sc.3: Here! Baby!	4:01			$0.99
16	16.Sc.3: And Farewell to Ye, Old Rights O Man!	4:34			$0.99
17	17.Interlude	3:06			$0.99
18	18.Sc.4: According to The Articles of War	1:50			$0.49
19	19.Sc.4: Down All Hands! And See That They Go!	2:21			$0.99
20	20.Epilogue. We Committed His Body to the Deep	4:38			$0.99
CD 7 of 8
Benjamin Britten Composer Peter Grimes, Op.33 (opera)...Prologue Work Recorded 1958 11:31 Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra Covent Garden Orchestra, Douglas Robinson Chorus/Choir Director, Royal Opera House Chorus Covent Garden Chorus/Choir, Iris Kells Voice, Lauris Elms Voice, Owen Brannigan Voice, Sir Geraint Evans Bass-baritone, Peter Pears Tenor, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Marion Studholme Voice, Raymond Nilsson Voice, James Pease Voice, John Lanigan Voice, David Kelly Voice, Claire Watson Voice, Jean Watson Voice
1	1.Peter Grimes!	1:27			$0.49
2	2.You Sailed Your Boat	3:04			$0.99
3	3.Peter Grimes, I Here Advise You!	2:09			$0.99
4	4.The Truth...the Pity	1:54			$0.49
5	5.Interlude 1: On the Beach	2:57			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Peter Grimes, Op.33 (opera)...Act 1 Work Recorded 1958 42:22 Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra Covent Garden Orchestra, Douglas Robinson Chorus/Choir Director, Royal Opera House Chorus Covent Garden Chorus/Choir, Iris Kells Voice, Lauris Elms Voice, Owen Brannigan Voice, Sir Geraint Evans Bass-baritone, Peter Pears Tenor, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Marion Studholme Voice, Raymond Nilsson Voice, James Pease Voice, John Lanigan Voice, David Kelly Voice, Claire Watson Voice, Jean Watson Voice
6	1.Oh, Hang at Open Doors	5:35			$0.99
7	2.Hi! Give us a Hand	3:18			$0.99
8	3.I Have to go From Pub to Pub	1:58			$0.49
9	4.Let Her Among You	3:08			$0.99
10	5.Look, the Storm Come!	2:41			$0.99
11	6.And Do You Prefer the Storm	4:56			$0.99
12	7.What Harbour Shelters Peace	1:11			$0.49
13	8.Interlude 2: The Storm	4:08			$0.99
14	9.Past Time to Close!	4:21			$0.99
15	10.We Live and Let Live	1:57			$0.49
16	11.Have You Heard? The Cliff is Down!	1:22			$0.49
17	12.Now the Great Bear and Pleiades	3:40			$0.99
18	13.Old Joe has Gone Fishing	2:28			$0.99
19	14.The Bridge is Down. We Half Swam Over	1:39			$0.49
Benjamin Britten Composer Peter Grimes, Op.33 (opera)...Act 2 Work Recorded 1958 49:13 Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra Covent Garden Orchestra, Douglas Robinson Chorus/Choir Director, Royal Opera House Chorus Covent Garden Chorus/Choir, Iris Kells Voice, Lauris Elms Voice, Owen Brannigan Voice, Sir Geraint Evans Bass-baritone, Peter Pears Tenor, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Marion Studholme Voice, Raymond Nilsson Voice, James Pease Voice, John Lanigan Voice, David Kelly Voice, Claire Watson Voice, Jean Watson Voice
20	1.Interlude 3: Sunday Morning by the Beach	2:24			$0.99
21	2.Glitter of Waves	5:40			$0.99
22	3.Let This be a Holiday	2:59			$0.99
23	4.This Unrelenting Work	4:40			$0.99
24	5.Fool to Let it Come to This!	2:18			$0.99
25	6.What is it?	1:02			$0.49
26	7.People!...No! I Will Speak!	2:13			$0.99

CD 8 of 8
1	8.We Planned that Their Lives	2:27			$0.99
2	9.Swallow! Shall We Go	0:43			$0.49
3	10.Now is Gossip Put on Trial	2:12			$0.99
4	11.From the Gutter	4:34			$0.99
5	12.Interlude 4: Passacaglia	5:27			$0.99
6	13.Go There! Here's Your Sea Boots!	7:18			$1.49
7	14.Now!...Now!	2:09			$0.99
8	15.Peter Grimes! Nobody Here?	3:07			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Peter Grimes, Op.33 (opera)...Act 3 Work Recorded 1958 38:54 Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra Covent Garden Orchestra, Douglas Robinson Chorus/Choir Director, Royal Opera House Chorus Covent Garden Chorus/Choir, Iris Kells Voice, Lauris Elms Voice, Owen Brannigan Voice, Sir Geraint Evans Bass-baritone, Peter Pears Tenor, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Marion Studholme Voice, Raymond Nilsson Voice, James Pease Voice, John Lanigan Voice, David Kelly Voice, Claire Watson Voice, Jean Watson Voice
9	1.Interlude 5: Evening	4:19			$0.99
10	2.Assign Your Prettiness to Me	2:36			$0.99
11	3.Pah!	2:48			$0.99
12	4.Come Along, Doctor!	3:18			$0.99
13	5.Embroidery in Childhood ('The Embroidery Aria')	5:09			$0.99
14	6.Mr.Swallow!	1:59			$0.49
15	7.Who Holds Himself Apart	3:45			$0.99
16	8.Interlude 6: Fog	2:36			$0.99
17	9.Grimes! Grimes!	4:55			$0.99
18	10.Peter, We've Come to Take You Home	2:29			$0.99
19	11.To Those Who Pass The Borough	5:00			$0.99