Britten: Peter Grimes

Britten: Peter Grimes

Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink, 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)

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

1:36

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

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

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, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Stafford Dean, Bernard Haitink

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)

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

5:01

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

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

3:33

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

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

1:57

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

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

2:56

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

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

2:42

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

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

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

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

4:20

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

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

4:39

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

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

2:12

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

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

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

3:42

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

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

2:18

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

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

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)

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

5:34

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

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

3:28

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

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

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

3:20

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

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

2:01

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

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

3:04

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

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

2:21

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

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

5:03

Interlude II. Passacaglia

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bernard Haitink

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)

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

3:57

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

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

2:09

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

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

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

2:57

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

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

2:45

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

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

2:50

"Embroidery in Childhood" (Ellen, Balstrode)

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

5:07

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

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

1:59

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

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

5:10

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

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

2:47

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

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

4:28

Benjamin Britten

Composer
Chorus of the Royal Opera House

Chorus
Bernard Haitink

Conductor
Dame Felicity Lott

Soprano
Stafford Dean

Vocals, Bass Guitar, Bass

Simon Woods

Producer