Britten: Peter Grimes

Britten: Peter Grimes

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

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

1:36

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

Dame Felicity Lott, Stafford Dean, Sarah Walker, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Bernard Haitink, 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)

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

2:13

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

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

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)

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

5:01

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

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

3:33

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

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

1:57

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

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

2:56

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

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

Bernard Haitink, Sir Thomas Allen, 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

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

4:20

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

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

4:39

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

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

2:12

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

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

1:37

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

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

3:42

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

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

2:18

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

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

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)

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

5:34

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

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

3:28

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

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

4:42

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

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

3:20

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

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

2:01

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

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

3:04

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

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

2:21

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

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

5:03

Interlude II. Passacaglia

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

5:20

"Go There!" (Peter)

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

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)

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

2:09

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

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

3:17

Interlude I. Moonlight

Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

4:21

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

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

2:57

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

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

2:45

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

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

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)

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

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

5:10

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

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

2:47

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

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

4:28

Benjamin Britten

Composer
Bernard Haitink

Conductor
Chorus of the Royal Opera House

Chorus
Dame Felicity Lott

Soprano
Anthony Rolfe Johnson

Vocals, Tenor

Simon Woods

Producer