Britten: Peter Grimes

Britten: Peter Grimes

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

3:26

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

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

2:13

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

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

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

5:01

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

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

3:33

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

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

1:57

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

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

2:56

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

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

2:42

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

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

3:52

"They Listen to Money" (Balstrode, Peter)

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

1:29

"What Harbour Shelters Peace" (Peter)

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

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)

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

4:39

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

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

2:12

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

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

1:37

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

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

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)

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

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

5:34

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

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

3:28

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

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

4:42

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

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

3:20

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

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

2:01

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

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

3:04

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

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

2:21

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

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

5:03

Interlude II. Passacaglia

Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

5:20

"Go There!" (Peter)

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

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)

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

2:09

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

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

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

2:57

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

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

2:45

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

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

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)

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

1:59

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

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

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

5:10

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

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

2:47

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

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

4:28

Benjamin Britten

Composer
Dame Felicity Lott

Soprano
Chorus of the Royal Opera House

Chorus
Bernard Haitink

Conductor
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Orchestra

Simon Woods

Producer