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)

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

1:36

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

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

3:26

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

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

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)

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

5:01

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

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

3:33

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

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

1:57

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

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

2:56

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

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

2:42

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

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

3:52

"They Listen to Money" (Balstrode, Peter)

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

Bernard Haitink, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

4:20

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

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

4:39

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

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

2:12

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

Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink, 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)

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

3:42

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

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

2:18

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

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

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

5:34

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

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

3:28

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

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

4:42

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

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

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, Bernard Haitink, Patricia Payne, Sir Thomas Allen, Dame Felicity Lott, Neil Jenkins

2:01

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

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

3:04

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

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

2:21

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

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

5:03

Interlude II. Passacaglia

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

5:20

"Go There!" (Peter)

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

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)

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

2:09

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

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

3:17

Interlude I. Moonlight

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

4:21

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

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

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)

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

2:50

"Embroidery in Childhood" (Ellen, Balstrode)

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

5:07

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

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

1:59

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

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Chorus 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)

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

5:10

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

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

2:47

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

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

4:28

Benjamin Britten

Composer
Dame Felicity Lott

Soprano
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Orchestra
Bernard Haitink

Conductor
Chorus of the Royal Opera House

Chorus

Simon Woods

Producer