This live recording of Billy Budd comes from the 2010 Glyndebourne Festival. Billy Budd, Britten and Glyndebourne share an interesting history. In 1950 Benjamin Britten wrote to Ian Hunter, Artistic Administrator of the Edinburgh Festival, requesting that the first performance of his new opera Billy Budd take place at the Festival in 1951. Hunter indicated that they were ‘unanimous in welcoming the proposal’ and Glyndebourne Opera, as the resident company were the obvious partner. Hunter was possibly unaware of the schism that existed between John Christie and Britten, and maybe the old wounds ran deep, as six months later, Sadlers Wells, were in the frame, the costs subsequently proving prohibitive, so Hunter unsuccessfully re-approached Glyndebourne offering to meet all costs, but Royal Opera Covent Garden ended up producing the first production in London in October 1951.

This Billy Budd is Glyndebourne’s first production (and Director Michael Grandage’s first foray into opera), but such is Glyndebourne’s pedigree with Britten that it was an eagerly anticipated production that does not disappoint. Jacques Imbrailo as Billy Budd is simplicity at its best, with a warmth of tone and excellent diction. Iain Paterson as Redburn the First Lieutenant, leads the others powerfully, his trio with Lieutenant Ratcliffe (Darren Jeffery) and Flint (Matthew
Rose) is as good as any moment in opera can get.

Billy Budd Cast
Captain Vere John Mark Ainsley tenor
First Mate Michael Wallace baritone
Second Mate John-Owen Miley-Read bass
Mr Flint, Sailing Master Matthew Rose bass
Bosun Richard Mosley-Evans baritone
Maintop Peter Gijsbertsen tenor
Novice Ben Johnson tenor
Squeak, a ship’s corporal Colin Judson tenor
Mr Redburn, First lieutenant Iain Paterson bass baritone
Lieutenant Ratcliffe Darren Jeffery bass baritone
Claggart, Master-at-Arms Phillip Ens bass
Red Whiskers Alasdair Elliott tenor
Billy Budd Jacques Imbrailo baritone
Sir Mark Elder conductor
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The Glyndebourne Chorus