BTC1040.1 BILLY BUDD

An opera in two acts, 50
Composition date: Sep 1960
First performance: 13 Nov 1960 >>
Type of performance: Radio broadcast
Location: BBC Third Programme (pre-recorded on 8 November 1960 at the Camden Theatre, London)
Performance details:

Peter Pears Captain Vere, Joseph Ward Billy Budd, Michael Langdon John Claggart, John Noble Mr Redburn, Denis Dowling Mr Flint, Roger Stalman Lieutenant Ratcliffe, Choir of Watford Boys' Grammar School, BBC Men's Chorus, BBC SO, Benjamin Britten cond

Genre: Stage work
Opera
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)
Performing forces:

Cast and orchestra

Principals: Captain Vere ten, Billy Budd bar, John Claggart bass, Mr Redburn bar, Mr Flint bass-bar, Lieutenant Ratcliffe bass, Red Whiskers ten, Donald bar, Dansker bass, Novice ten, Squeak ten, Bosun bar, First Mate bar, Second Mate bar, Maintop ten, Novices Friend bar, Arthur Jones bar, 4 Midshipmen boys voices, Cabin Boy spkr

Chorus: Officers, Sailors, Powder Monkeys, Drummers, Marines

Orchestra: 4fl (II, III, IV=picc), 2 ob, ca, 2 cl in Bb (II=Eb and bass cl), bass cl (=III cl), alto sax, 2 bn, dbn - 4 hn, 4 tpt in C (III in D), 3 trbn, tuba - timp, 6 perc (xyl, glock, trgl, wb, tamb, sd, td, bd, whip, cymbl, susp cymb, small gong) - harp - str - 4 drums played by drummers on stage

Duration: 158'
Commissioned:

The Arts Council of Great Britain, for the Festival of Britain, 1951

Dedication: To George and Marion, December 1951

Movements

  • 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