Britten: Peter Grimes

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

1993

Britten: Peter Grimes

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, Stafford Dean, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, David Wilson-Johnson

1:36

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

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

3:26

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

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

2:13

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

Bernard Haitink, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Dame Felicity Lott, 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)

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

5:01

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

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

3:33

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

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

1:57

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

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

2:56

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

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

2:42

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

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

3:52

"They Listen to Money" (Balstrode, Peter)

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

1:29

"What Harbour Shelters Peace" (Peter)

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

1:06

Interlude. Storm

Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

4:20

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

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

4:39

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

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

2:12

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

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

1:37

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

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

3:42

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

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

2:18

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

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

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, Neil Jenkins, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

5:34

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

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

3:28

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

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

4:42

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

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

3:20

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

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

2:01

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

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

3:04

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

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

2:21

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

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

5:03

Interlude II. Passacaglia

Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

5:20

"Go There!" (Peter)

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

3:14

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

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

3:57

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

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

2:09

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

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

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, Bernard Haitink, Gillian Webster, Stafford Dean, Simon Keenlyside, Maria Bovino

2:57

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

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

2:45

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

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

2:50

"Embroidery in Childhood" (Ellen, Balstrode)

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

5:07

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

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

1:59

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

Orchestra 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, Anthony Rolfe Johnson

5:10

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

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

2:47

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

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

4:28

Simon Woods

Producer