Britten: Peter Grimes

Britten: Peter Grimes

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

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

1:36

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

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

3:26

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

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

2:13

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

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

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)

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

5:01

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

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

3:33

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

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

1:57

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

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

2:56

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

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

2:42

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

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

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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

1:37

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

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

3:42

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

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

2:18

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

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

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)

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

5:34

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

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

3:28

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

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

4:42

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

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

3:20

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

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

2:01

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

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

3:04

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

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

2:21

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

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

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)

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

3:57

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

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

2:09

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

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

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

2:50

"Embroidery in Childhood" (Ellen, Balstrode)

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

5:07

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

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

1:59

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

Chorus of the Royal Opera House, 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)

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

5:10

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

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

2:47

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

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

4:28

Benjamin Britten

Composer
Dame Felicity Lott

Soprano
Bernard Haitink

Conductor
Chorus of the Royal Opera House

Chorus
Anthony Rolfe Johnson

Vocals, Tenor

Simon Woods

Producer