Album

Benjamin Britten's 1948 version of The Beggar's Opera contains more of the original tunes assembled by John Gay for his 1728 ballad opera than most other modern versions. It also bears the most individualistic imprint of any modern version, to the extent that Britten is fully justified in designating it as his Op. 43. The orchestration is distinctively quirky; the chamber ensemble for which he arranged it is strikingly similar to that of The Rape of Lucretia and Albert Herring, and it makes no attempt to disguise its twentieth century idiom. Harmonically, too, Britten lets his imagination run free, and his accompaniments are unmistakably modern. In his treatment of the folk, popular, and classical melodies to which Gay attached his lyrics, though, Britten is scrupulously faithful to the originals, retaining all the eccentricities that can sound quite odd to modern ears, and which tend to get smoothed out and made "prettier" in most modern editions of the work.

Ballad opera is not a familiar genre, this being the only piece of its type that's performed with any frequency. It is more like a musical comedy than any kind of opera, but its brief snippets of dialogue alternating with brief songs, frequently a single verse, give it a stop-and-start quality that isn't immediately easy for contemporary audiences to relate to. There is considerable wit (and innuendo) in the text, which Britten's ingenious setting heightens, and plenty to appeal to adventurous listeners. This performance of the complete work, including dialogue (which is delivered energetically throughout), makes a strong case for the piece. The singing overall is adequate, of the caliber expected of a Gilbert and Sullivan production. Tom Randle is a somewhat nasal Macheath with excessive vibrato, and Leah-Marian Jones a mature-sounding Polly, but veterans Jeremy White and Susan Bickley are in fine voice, and deliver splendidly vivid characterizations of Mr. and Mrs. Peachum. The City of London Sinfonia plays with precision and high spirits for Christian Curnyn, whose reading is well attuned to the humor and eccentricities in the score. Chandos' sound is clear and present, but doesn't do much to create a sense of dramatic space.

© Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Benjamin Britten Composer Beggar's Opera...Act 1 Work 52:24 Sirena Tocco Vocals, Sarah Fox Soprano, Bernadette Lord Vocals, Paul Hopwood Vocals, Katherine Paterson Vocals, Miranda Westcott Vocals, Kathryn Jenkin Vocals, Donald Maxwell Baritone, Siobhain Gibson Vocals, Christian Curnyn Conductor, Bryn Evans Vocals, Alison Place Vocals, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, Robert Anthony Gardiner Tenor, Susan Bickley Mezzo-Soprano, Ben Thapa Tenor, Leah Marian Jones Mezzo-Soprano, Aidan Smith Vocals, Clare McCaldin Mezzo-Soprano, Frances McCafferty Mezzo-Soprano, Tom Randle Tenor, Mark Saberton Vocals, Thomas Barnard Bass, Jeremy White Bass, Katy Batho Vocals
1	1.Introduction: If Poverty be a title to Poetry (Beggar)	1:19			$0.99
2	2.Overture	4:24			$0.99
3	3.Through all the employments of life (Peachum)	1:18			$0.99
4	4.Sir, black Moll hath sent word (Filch, Peachum)	0:42			$0.99
5	5'Tis Woman that seduces all Mankind (Filch, Peachum)	1:17			$0.99
6	6 But it is now high time to look about me (Peachum, Mrs. Peachum)	1:12			$0.99
7	7Women indeed are bitter bad judges - …ev'ry Man handsome who is going to the Camp - If any wench Venus' Girdle wear (Mrs. Peachum)	0:52			$0.99
8	8Was Captain Macheath here this morning? (Peachum, Mrs. Peachum)	0:54			$0.99
9	9If Love the Virgin's Heart invade (Mrs. Peachum, Peachum)	1:52			$0.99
10	10A Maid is like the Golden ore (Mrs. Peachum)	0:29			$0.99
11	11Come hither, Filch (Mrs. Peachum, Filch)	0:59			$0.99
12	12I know as well as any of the fine ladies (Polly) - Virgins are like the fair flower in its lustre (Polly, Peachum)	2:22			$0.99
13	13Our Polly is a sad slut! (Mrs. Peachum, Omnes, Peachum, Polly)	1:19			$0.99
14	14Can Love be controlled by Advice? (Polly, Mrs. Peachum, Peachum)	1:17			$0.99
15	15The girl shows such a readiness (Mrs. Peachum) - O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed (Mrs. Peachum, Polly, Omnes, Peachum)	2:17			$0.99
16	16I, like a Ship in storms, was tossed (Polly, Mrs. Peachum, Peachum)	0:53			$0.99
17	17A fox may steal your hens, Sir (Peachum, Mrs. Peachum, Polly)	1:45			$0.99
18	18O ponder well! Be not severe (Polly, Mrs. Peachum)	0:48			$0.99
19	19The Turtle thus with plaintive crying, her Lover dying (Polly, Mrs. Peachum, Peachum)	1:51			$0.99
20	20.Now I'm a wretch indeed! (Polly, Omnes, Macheath)	3:02			$0.99
21	21My heart was so free (Macheath, Polly)	0:48			$0.99
22	22Were I laid on Greenland's coast (Macheath, Polly, Omnes)	1:59			$0.99
23	23O! what pain it is to part! (Polly, Macheath)	0:55			$0.99
24	24The Miser thus a shilling sees (Macheath, Polly)	2:25			$0.99
25	25But pr'thee, Mat, what is become of thy brother Tom? (Ben Budge, Mat of the Mint, Jemmy Twitcher, Nimming Ned, Harry Paddington, Wat Dreary)	0:41			$0.99
26	26Fill ev'ry glass, for wine inspires us (Gentlemen of the Road)	0:49			$0.99
27	27Gentlemen, well met (Macheath, Mat of the Mint)	0:37			$0.99
28	28I shall wish myself with you (Macheath) - Let us take the road (Harry Paddington, Gentlemen of the Road)	1:49			$0.99
29	29If the heart of a man is depressed with cares (Macheath)	2:05			$0.99
30	30Dear Mrs. Coaxer, you are welcome (Macheath) - Youth's the season made for joys (Macheath, Ladies of the Town)	4:35			$0.99
31	31Now pray, ladies, take your places (Macheath, Jenny Diver, Mrs. Coaxer)	0:54			$0.99
32	32It is your own choice (Jenny Diver) - Before the barn-door crowing (Jenny Diver, Ladies of the Town, Macheath, Dolly Trull, Suky Tawdry)	1:32			$0.99
33	33But to be sure, Sir (Jenny Diver) - The Gamesters and Lawyers are jugglers alike (Ladies of the Town, Betty Doxy, Macheath, Peachum)	1:39			$0.99
34	34The gentleman, ladies, lodges in Newgate - Constables, wait upon the Captain to his lodgings (Peachum) - At the Tree I shall suffer with pleasure (Macheath)	0:44			$0.99
CD 2 of 2
Benjamin Britten Composer Beggar's Opera...Act 2 Work 22:46 Sirena Tocco Vocals, Sarah Fox Soprano, Bernadette Lord Vocals, Paul Hopwood Vocals, Katherine Paterson Vocals, Miranda Westcott Vocals, Kathryn Jenkin Vocals, Donald Maxwell Baritone, Siobhain Gibson Vocals, Christian Curnyn Conductor, Bryn Evans Vocals, Alison Place Vocals, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, Robert Anthony Gardiner Tenor, Susan Bickley Mezzo-Soprano, Ben Thapa Tenor, Leah Marian Jones Mezzo-Soprano, Aidan Smith Vocals, Clare McCaldin Mezzo-Soprano, Frances McCafferty Mezzo-Soprano, Tom Randle Tenor, Mark Saberton Vocals, Thomas Barnard Bass, Jeremy White Bass, Katy Batho Vocals
1	Act II: Noble Captain, you are welcome (Lockit, Macheath)	0:53			$0.99
2	Act II: Man may escape from rope and gun (Macheath, Lucy Lockit)	3:28			$0.99
3	Act II: Thus when a good Housewife sees a rat (Lucy Lockit, Macheath)	0:44			$0.99
4	Act II: It is the pleasure of all you fine men (Lucy Lockit) - How cruel are the traytors (Lucy Lockit, Macheath)	2:32			$0.99
5	Act II: The first time at the looking glass (Macheath, Lucy Lockit)	1:13			$0.99
6	Act II: In this last affair, brother Peachum, we are agreed (Lockit, Peachum)	0:45			$0.99
7	Act II: Such language, brother, anywhere else (Lockit) - When you censure the age (Lockit, Lucy Lockit)	1:07			$0.99
8	Act II: Is then his fate decreed, Sir? (Lucy Lockit, Lockit)	1:42			$0.99
9	Act II: Though the Chaplain was out of the way to-day (Lucy Lockit, Macheath, Polly)	1:09			$0.99
10	Act II: Thus when the Swallow seeking prey (Polly, Macheath, Lucy Lockit)	1:54			$0.99
11	Act II: If women's tongues can cease for an answer (Macheath) - I will not! (Lucy Lockit) - How happy could I be with either (Macheath, Polly)	1:26			$0.99
12	Act II: Cease your funning (Polly, Omnes, Macheath, Lucy Lockit)	2:48			$0.99
13	Act II: Why how now, Madam Flirt! (Lucy Lockit, Polly, Peachum, Lockit)	1:05			$0.99
14	Act II: No power on earth can e'er divide (Lucy Lockit, Macheath, Lockit, Peachum, Omnes)	2:00			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer Beggar's Opera...Act 3 Work 42:01 Sirena Tocco Vocals, Sarah Fox Soprano, Bernadette Lord Vocals, Paul Hopwood Vocals, Katherine Paterson Vocals, Miranda Westcott Vocals, Kathryn Jenkin Vocals, Donald Maxwell Baritone, Siobhain Gibson Vocals, Christian Curnyn Conductor, Bryn Evans Vocals, Alison Place Vocals, City of London Sinfonia Orchestra, Robert Anthony Gardiner Tenor, Susan Bickley Mezzo-Soprano, Ben Thapa Tenor, Leah Marian Jones Mezzo-Soprano, Aidan Smith Vocals, Clare McCaldin Mezzo-Soprano, Frances McCafferty Mezzo-Soprano, Tom Randle Tenor, Mark Saberton Vocals, Thomas Barnard Bass, Jeremy White Bass, Katy Batho Vocals
15	Act III: To be sure, wench, you must have been aiding and abetting (Lockit, Lucy Lockit)	0:49			$0.99
16	Act III: Dear Sir, mention not my education (Lucy Lockit, Lockit)	3:19			$0.99
17	Act III: Ungrateful Macheath! (Lucy Lockit, Lockit)	1:06			$0.99
18	Act III: Thus Gamesters united in friendship are found (Lockit)	1:43			$0.99
19	Act III: Our scene doth represent a Gaming House (Beggar) - The modes of the Court so common are grown (Macheath, Ben Budge, Mat of the Mint, Omnes)	2:43			$0.99
20	Act III: The Coronation account, brother Peachum (Lockit, Peachum, Servant, Mrs. Trapes)	2:14			$0.99
21	Act III: In the days of my youth I could bill like a dove (Mrs. Trapes, Lockit, Peachum)	2:21			$0.99
22	Act III: In the days of my youth I could bill like a dove (Mrs. Trapes, Beggar)	0:39			$0.99
23	Act III: Jealousy, rage, love and fear (Lucy Lockit)	1:07			$0.99
24	Act III: I have the Rat's-bane ready (Lucy Lockit, Filch, Polly)	2:12			$0.99
25	Act III: A curse attends a woman's love (Polly, Lucy Lockit)	1:38			$0.99
26	Act III: When I was forced from him (Polly, Lucy Lockit)	1:02			$0.99
27	Act III: Come, sweet lass (Lucy Lockit, Polly)	1:55			$0.99
28	Act III: Now every glimmering of happiness is lost (Polly, Lucy Lockit, Macheath, Peachum)	1:45			$0.99
29	Act III: Which way shall I turn me, how can I decide? (Macheath, Polly)	0:40			$0.99
30	Act III: Dear, dear Sir, sink the material evidence (Polly)	1:53			$0.99
31	Act III: How then can you be a tyrant to me (Lucy Lockit) - When he holds up his hand arraigned for his life (Lucy Lockit, Lockit)	2:00			$0.99
32	Act III: Ourselves, like the Great, to secure a retreat (Lockit, Peachum)	0:44			$0.99
33	Act III: We are ready, Sir… (Lockit) - …to conduct you to the Old Bailey! (Lockit, Lucy Lockit, Polly, Macheath, Lockit, Peachum, Omnes)	1:54			$0.99
34	Act III: O cruel, cruel case! (Macheath, Jailer)	5:10			$0.99
35	Act III: Would I might be hanged! (Polly, Lucy Lockit, Macheath)	1:58			$0.99
36	Act III: But surely you don't intend that Macheath shall really executed? (Mat of the Mint, Beggar, Ben Budge, Lucy Lockit, Polly, Lockit, Peachum)	1:18			$0.99
37	Act III: Thus I stand like a Turk, with his doxies around (Macheath, Mrs. Peachum, Peachum, Ladies of the Town, Gentlemen of the Road, Lucy Lockit, Polly, Mrs. Trapes, Lockit)	1:51			$0.99