Britten: Peter Grimes

Britten: Peter Grimes

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Dame Felicity Lott, Chorus 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)

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

1:36

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

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

3:26

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

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

2:13

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

Dame Felicity Lott, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, 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)

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

5:01

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

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

3:33

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

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

1:57

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

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

2:56

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

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

2:42

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

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

3:52

"They Listen to Money" (Balstrode, Peter)

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

1:29

"What Harbour Shelters Peace" (Peter)

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

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)

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

4:39

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

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

2:12

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

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

1:37

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

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

3:42

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

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

2:18

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

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

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)

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

5:34

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

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

3:28

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

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

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

3:20

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

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

2:01

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

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

3:04

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

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

2:21

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

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

5:03

Interlude II. Passacaglia

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

5:20

"Go There!" (Peter)

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

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)

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

2:09

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

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

3:17

Interlude I. Moonlight

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

4:21

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

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

2:57

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

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

2:45

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

Bernard Haitink, Dame Felicity Lott, Edward Parry, John Winfield, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Christopher Keyte, Sir Thomas Allen, Neil Jenkins, Jonathan Coad, Sarah Walker, Jonathan Fisher, 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, Patricia Payne, Sarah Walker, David Wilson-Johnson, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

1:59

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

Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink, 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)

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

5:10

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

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

2:47

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

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

4:28

Benjamin Britten

Composer
Dame Felicity Lott

Soprano
Chorus of the Royal Opera House

Chorus
Bernard Haitink

Conductor
Stafford Dean

Vocals, Bass Guitar, Bass

Simon Woods

Producer