Britten: Peter Grimes

Britten: Peter Grimes

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

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

1:36

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

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

3:26

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

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

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

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)

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

5:01

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

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

3:33

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

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

1:57

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

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

2:56

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

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

2:42

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

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

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)

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

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, Patricia Payne, Sarah Walker, Stuart Kale, Bernard Haitink, Gillian Webster, Sir Thomas Allen, Maria Bovino

4:39

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

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

2:12

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

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

1:37

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

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

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)

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

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)

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

5:34

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

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

3:28

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

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

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

3:20

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

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

2:01

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

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

3:04

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

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

2:21

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

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

5:03

Interlude II. Passacaglia

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

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)

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

3:57

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

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

2:09

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

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

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

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

2:50

"Embroidery in Childhood" (Ellen, Balstrode)

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

5:07

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

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

1:59

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

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

3:44

Interlude II. Fog

Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

2:34

"Grimes! Grimes! Steady, There You Are" (Chorus, Peter)

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

5:10

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

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

2:47

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

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

4:28

Benjamin Britten

Composer
Bernard Haitink

Conductor
Chorus of the Royal Opera House

Chorus
Dame Felicity Lott

Soprano
David Wilson-Johnson

Bass-Baritone

Simon Woods

Producer