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Billy Budd
This performance of Billy Budd is notable because it captures the great Peter Pears in the role of Captain Vere. Pears was no stranger to this role, having created it in 1951 and continuing to sing it up until the famous Met production in 1979. By 1960 his voice was still in excellent shape while his understanding of the role had deepened in the decade or so that had elapsed from the premiere. Simply put, he is chilling especially in the prologue and epilogue where he considers his actions/mistakes as an old man. Joseph Ward delivers a virile and boisterous Billy. Michael Langdon's black bass is near perfect as Claggart. He is truly evil personified. Benjamin Britten displays a keen sense for his own score as well as a technique that must have been rock solid for him to navigate the architecture of this score.although there is some occasional interference.
Track List
Prologue
1. I am an old man...
Act I
2. Pull, my bantams! Pull, my sparrowlegs!
3. Boat ahoy!
4. First man forward!
5. Billy Budd, king of the birds!
6. I heard, your honour!
7. Come along, kid!
8. Christ, the poor chap, the poor little runt!
9. Boy, my compliments to Mr. Redburn and Mr. Flint
10. Don't like the French
11. Land on the port bow, sir.
12. Blow her, blow her away
13. O beauty, o handsomeness, goodness...
14. Novice, come here. Remember your promise
15. Why had it to be Billy, the one we all love?
16. Mutiny, that's what they were for
3. Boat ahoy!
4. First man forward!
5. Billy Budd, king of the birds!
6. I heard, your honour!
7. Come along, kid!
8. Christ, the poor chap, the poor little runt!
9. Boy, my compliments to Mr. Redburn and Mr. Flint
10. Don't like the French
11. Land on the port bow, sir.
12. Blow her, blow her away
13. O beauty, o handsomeness, goodness...
14. Novice, come here. Remember your promise
15. Why had it to be Billy, the one we all love?
16. Mutiny, that's what they were for
Act III
17. I don't like the look fo the mist, Mr. Reburn
18. This is our moment, the moment we've been waiting for
19. There you are again, Master-at-arms
20. Claggart, John Claggart, beware!
21. William Budd, I accuse you of insubordination
22. God o' mercy! Here, help me!
23. William Budd, you are accused by Captain Vere...
24. Poor fellow, who could save him?
25. I accept their verdict
26. Look, through the port comes the moonshine astray
27. Here! Baby!
28. And farewell to ye, old Rights o' Man!
29. "According to the Articles of War..."
18. This is our moment, the moment we've been waiting for
19. There you are again, Master-at-arms
20. Claggart, John Claggart, beware!
21. William Budd, I accuse you of insubordination
22. God o' mercy! Here, help me!
23. William Budd, you are accused by Captain Vere...
24. Poor fellow, who could save him?
25. I accept their verdict
26. Look, through the port comes the moonshine astray
27. Here! Baby!
28. And farewell to ye, old Rights o' Man!
29. "According to the Articles of War..."
Epilogue
30. We committed his body to the deep
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5.0
Based on 4 reviews
✓ Top Reviewer
United States
A powerful "Budd"
Intentionally or otherwise, this 1960 BBC broadcast served as a dry run for Benjamin Britten's recording of "Billy Budd" for Decca. Peter Pears and Michael Langdon would reprise their roles as Captain Vere and John Claggart, and are equally as eloquent as the recording angel of the tragedy and the jet-black-toned embodiment of evil in this earlier rendition. Choice of the album may swing on Joseph Ward's light-baritone Billy. To this listener he comes across more as naive than innocent and lacks a distinctive voice. Robert Kerns on Georg Solti's Covent Garden broadcast (Opera Depot) is to be preferred, IMO. However, the ensemble caliber of this radio performance is very high and Britten, for all his misgivings about his conductorial skills, leads with unmistakable authority. The sound is pin-drop clear. Strongly recommended.
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✓ Top Reviewer
United States
Stirring, Exciting Account of Britten's Greatest Opera
This was a BBC radio performance so the sound and color of each of the characters is extremely important as there is no visual counterpart - and the BBC got it just right. Joseph Ward is not as well-known in the United States, but he brings a beautiful baritone and a virile goodness to Billy without sounding goody-goody. Michael Langdon is evil personified as Claggart; the very sound of his dark, brooding bass is intimidating. Peter Pears has found even more colors in Vere than he found in the original 1951 world premiere. The sound is very listenable, but there is some occasional static (not too bothersome). A BBC announcer sets the scene for each of the scene changes similar to the later 1964 Solti performance. Britten fans should add this to their collections!
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✓ Top Reviewer
United States
✓ Verified Buyer
United Kingdom
