Britten: Peter Grimes

Britten: Peter Grimes

Dame Felicity Lott, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

1993

In a storm-swept fishing village on the east coast of England, the fisherman Peter Grimes is an outsider—a loner who seems to attract trouble. Benjamin Britten’s breakthrough opera is all about atmosphere and sense of place, but it’s also a portrait of a community. And in this compelling 1993 recording from Bernard Haitink and the forces of London’s Royal Opera House, that’s precisely the sense you get: a team of performers thoroughly immersed in Britten’s musical world, singing together as a true ensemble cast. Felicity Lott (Ellen Orford), Thomas Allen (Balstrode) and Anthony Rolfe Johnson (Peter Grimes) were all supreme interpreters of these roles, and with the whole experience captured in pristine sound, you’ll soon hear why one critic described this as an “inspired performance in a superbly lifelike recording”.

"Peter Grimes" (Hobson, Swallow, Peter)

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink, David Wilson-Johnson, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Stafford Dean

1:36

"You Sailed Your Boat" (Swallow, Peter, Mrs Sedley, Chorus, Hobson, Ellen)

Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Sarah Walker, Stafford Dean, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Dame Felicity Lott, Bernard Haitink, David Wilson-Johnson, Chorus of the Royal Opera House

3:26

"Peter Grimes, I Here Advise You!" (Swallow, Chorus, Hobson, Peter)

David Wilson-Johnson, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Stafford Dean

2:13

"The Truth, the Pity" (Peter, Ellen)

Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Dame Felicity Lott, Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

1:57

Interlude. Dawn

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

3:19

"Oh Hang at Open Doors the Net" (Chorus, First Fisherman, Auntie, Boles, Balstrode, Second Fisherman, Rector, Nieces, Mrs Sedley, Swallow)

Neil Jenkins, Maria Bovino, Stuart Kale, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Sir Thomas Allen, Patricia Payne, Sarah Walker, Gillian Webster, Bernard Haitink, Stafford Dean, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Christopher Lackner, Richard Hazell

5:01

"Hi! Give Us a Hand" (Peter, Boles, Balstrode, Ned, Auntie, Hobson)

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Sir Thomas Allen, Stuart Kale, David Wilson-Johnson, Patricia Payne, Bernard Haitink, Simon Keenlyside, Anthony Rolfe Johnson

3:33

"I Have to Go from Pub" (Hobson, Chorus, Ellen, Ned)

Bernard Haitink, David Wilson-Johnson, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Simon Keenlyside, Dame Felicity Lott, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

1:57

"Let Her Among You" (Ellen, Hobson, Mrs Sedley, Ned)

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Simon Keenlyside, Dame Felicity Lott, David Wilson-Johnson, Sarah Walker, Tom Cregan, Bernard Haitink

2:56

"Look! The Storm Cone!" (Balstrode, Chorus, Ned, Boles)

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Stuart Kale, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink, Simon Keenlyside, Sir Thomas Allen

2:42

"And Do You Prefer the Storm" (Balstrode, Peter)

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Sir Thomas Allen, Bernard Haitink, Anthony Rolfe Johnson

3:52

"They Listen to Money" (Balstrode, Peter)

Sir Thomas Allen, Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Anthony Rolfe Johnson

1:29

"What Harbour Shelters Peace" (Peter)

Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

1:06

Interlude. Storm

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

4:20

"Past Time to Close!" (Auntie, Mrs Sedley, Balstrode, Boles, Nieces, Fisherman)

Maria Bovino, Stuart Kale, Christopher Lackner, Patricia Payne, Sarah Walker, Bernard Haitink, Gillian Webster, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Sir Thomas Allen

4:39

"Come on, Boy!" (Balstrode, Chorus)

Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Sir Thomas Allen, Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

2:12

"Have You Heard? The Cliff Is Down" (Ned, Auntie, Mrs Sedley, Balstrode, Chorus)

Sir Thomas Allen, Bernard Haitink, Simon Keenlyside, Patricia Payne, Sarah Walker, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Chorus of the Royal Opera House

1:37

"Now the Great Bear and Pleiades" (Peter, Chorus, Nieces, Boles, Balstrode, Auntie)

Maria Bovino, Stuart Kale, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Patricia Payne, Bernard Haitink, Sir Thomas Allen, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Gillian Webster, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

3:42

"Old Joe Has Gone Fishing" (Ned, Chorus, Peter)

Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Simon Keenlyside, Chorus of the Royal Opera House

2:18

"The Bridge Is Down" (Hobson, Ned, Ellen, Boles, Auntie, Nieces, Peter)

Patricia Payne, Simon Keenlyside, Maria Bovino, Stuart Kale, David Wilson-Johnson, Bernard Haitink, Dame Felicity Lott, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Gillian Webster, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

1:45

Interlude I. Sunday Morning

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

2:28

"Glitter of Waves and Glitter of Sunlight" (Ellen, Chorus, Rector)

Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Dame Felicity Lott, Neil Jenkins, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

5:34

"Child You're Not Too Young" (Ellen, Chorus, Rector, Peter)

Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink, Dame Felicity Lott, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Neil Jenkins

3:28

"This Unrelenting Work" (Ellen, Peter, Chorus)

Dame Felicity Lott, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

4:42

"Fool to Let It Come to This!" (Auntie, Ned, Boles, Chorus, Mrs Sedley, Balstrode, Lawyer, Swallow, Fisherwoman, Nieces, Rector)

Simon Keenlyside, Sir Thomas Allen, Stafford Dean, Neil Jenkins, Tom Cregan, Gillian Webster, Patricia Payne, Sarah Walker, Bernard Haitink, Maria Bovino, Stuart Kale, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Karen Robertson, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

3:20

"People! No! I Will Speak!" (Boles, Chorus, Balstrode, Rector, Auntie, Ellen)

Neil Jenkins, Stuart Kale, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Patricia Payne, Sir Thomas Allen, Bernard Haitink, Dame Felicity Lott, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

2:01

"We Planned That Their Lives" (Ellen, Rector, Mrs Sedley, Boles, Ned, Nieces, Auntie, Balstrode, Hobson, Swallow)

Dame Felicity Lott, Simon Keenlyside, Stafford Dean, Maria Bovino, Stuart Kale, David Wilson-Johnson, Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Patricia Payne, Sarah Walker, Sir Thomas Allen, Neil Jenkins, Gillian Webster

3:04

"Now Is Gossip Put on Trial" (Chorus, Mrs Sedley, Boles, Rector, Ned, Swallow)

Stafford Dean, Neil Jenkins, Sarah Walker, Bernard Haitink, Simon Keenlyside, Stuart Kale, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

2:21

"From the Gutter" (Nieces, Auntie, Ellen)

Dame Felicity Lott, Bernard Haitink, Maria Bovino, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Gillian Webster, Patricia Payne

5:03

Interlude II. Passacaglia

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

5:20

"Go There!" (Peter)

Bernard Haitink, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

3:14

"In Dreams I've Built Myself" (Peter)

Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

3:57

"Now! Now!" (Chorus, Peter, Boles, Rector, Swallow, Ned)

Stuart Kale, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Simon Keenlyside, Stafford Dean, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Neil Jenkins

2:09

"Peter Grimes! Nobody There?" (Rector, Swallow, Ned)

Simon Keenlyside, Neil Jenkins, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink, Stafford Dean

3:17

Interlude I. Moonlight

Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

4:21

"Assign Your Prettiness to Me" (Swallow, Nieces, Ned)

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Stafford Dean, Maria Bovino, Simon Keenlyside, Bernard Haitink, Gillian Webster

2:57

"Mister Keene! Can You Spare a Moment" (Mrs Sedley, Ned)

Simon Keenlyside, Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Sarah Walker

2:45

"Come Along, Doctor!" (First Burgess, Burgesses, Rector, Mrs Sedley, Ellen, Balstrode)

Jonathan Coad, Dame Felicity Lott, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink, John Winfield, Sir Thomas Allen, Jonathan Fisher, Christopher Keyte, Donaldson Bell, Sarah Walker, Edward Parry, Neil Jenkins

2:50

"Embroidery in Childhood" (Ellen, Balstrode)

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink, Dame Felicity Lott, Sir Thomas Allen

5:07

"Mister Swallow! Mister Swallow!" (Mrs Sedley, Auntie, Swallow, Hobson)

Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Patricia Payne, Sarah Walker, David Wilson-Johnson, Stafford Dean

1:59

"Who Holds Himself Apart, Lets Pride Rise" (Chorus)

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

3:44

Interlude II. Fog

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

2:34

"Grimes! Grimes! Steady, There You Are" (Chorus, Peter)

Bernard Haitink, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Anthony Rolfe Johnson

5:10

"Peter, We've Come to Take You Home" (Ellen, Peter, Balstrode)

Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Bernard Haitink, Sir Thomas Allen, Dame Felicity Lott, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

2:47

"To Those Who Pass the Borough" (Chorus, Swallow, Fisherman, Auntie, Boles)

Patricia Payne, Bernard Haitink, Christopher Lackner, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Stafford Dean, Stuart Kale, Chorus of the Royal Opera House

4:28

Benjamin Britten

Composer
Dame Felicity Lott

Soprano
Chorus of the Royal Opera House

Chorus
Bernard Haitink

Conductor
David Wilson-Johnson

Bass-Baritone

Simon Woods

Producer