Britten: Peter Grimes

Britten: Peter Grimes

Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Dame Felicity Lott, 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, Stafford Dean, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, David Wilson-Johnson

1:36

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

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

3:26

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

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

2:13

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

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

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

5:01

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

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

3:33

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

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

1:57

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

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

2:56

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

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

2:42

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

Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Bernard Haitink, Sir Thomas Allen, 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

Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

4:20

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

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

4:39

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

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

2:12

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

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

1:37

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

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

3:42

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

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

2:18

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

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

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)

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

5:34

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

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

3:28

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

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

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

3:20

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

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

2:01

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

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

3:04

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

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

2:21

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

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

5:03

Interlude II. Passacaglia

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

5:20

"Go There!" (Peter)

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

3:14

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

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

3:57

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

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

2:09

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

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

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

2:57

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

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

2:45

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

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

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

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)

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

5:10

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

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

2:47

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

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

4:28

Benjamin Britten

Composer
Chorus of the Royal Opera House

Chorus
Dame Felicity Lott

Soprano
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Orchestra
Bernard Haitink

Conductor

Simon Woods

Producer