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)

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

1:36

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

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

3:26

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

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

2:13

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

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

1:57

Interlude. Dawn

Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

3:19

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

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

5:01

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

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

3:33

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

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

1:57

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

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

2:56

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

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

2:42

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

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

3:52

"They Listen to Money" (Balstrode, Peter)

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

1:29

"What Harbour Shelters Peace" (Peter)

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, 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)

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

4:39

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

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

2:12

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

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

1:37

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

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

3:42

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

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

2:18

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

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

1:45

Interlude I. Sunday Morning

Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

2:28

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

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

5:34

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

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

3:28

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

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

4:42

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

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

3:20

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

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

2:01

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

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

3:04

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

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

2:21

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

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

5:03

Interlude II. Passacaglia

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

5:20

"Go There!" (Peter)

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

3:14

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

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

3:57

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

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

2:09

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

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

3:17

Interlude I. Moonlight

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

4:21

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

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

2:57

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

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

2:45

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

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

2:50

"Embroidery in Childhood" (Ellen, Balstrode)

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

5:07

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

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

1:59

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

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

3:44

Interlude II. Fog

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

2:34

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

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

5:10

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

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

2:47

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

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

4:28

Benjamin Britten

Composer
Dame Felicity Lott

Soprano
Chorus of the Royal Opera House

Chorus
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Orchestra
Bernard Haitink

Conductor

Simon Woods

Producer